Structure and properties of the dendron-encapsulated polyoxometalate (C(52)H(60)NO(12))(12)[(Mn(H(2)O))(3)(SbW(9)O(33))(2)], a first generation dendrizyme

NMR-Relaxometric Investigation of Mn(II)-Doped Polyoxometalates in Aqueous Solutions

Solution behavior of K;₅[(Mn(H₂O))PW₁₁O₃₉]·7H₂O (1), Na_3.66(NH₄)_4.74H_3.1[(Mn^II(H₂O))_2.75(WO(H₂O))_0.25(α-B-SbW₉O₃₃)₂]·27H₂O (2), and Na_4.6H_3.4[(Mn^II(H₂O)₃)₂(WO₂)₂(β-B-TeW₉O₃₃)₂]·19H₂O (3) was studied with NMR-relaxometry and HPLC-ICP-AES (High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy). According to the data, the [(Mn(H₂O))PW₁₁O₃₉]^5- Keggin-type anion is the most stable in water among the tested complexes, even in the presence of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) or diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA). Aqueous solutions of 2 and 3 anions are less stable and contain other species resulting from dissociation of Mn²⁺. Quantum chemical calculations show the change in Mn²⁺ electronic state between [Mn(H₂O)₆]²⁺ and [(Mn(H₂O))PW₁₁O₃₉]^5-.

Inhomogeneous Distribution of Cationic Surfactants around Anionic Molecular Clusters

An interesting phenomenon is reported when uranyl peroxide nanoclusters U₆₀ (Li_48+m K₁₂ (OH)_m [UO₂ (O₂ )(OH)]₆₀ (H₂ O)_n , m≈20 and n≈310) interact with a small number of cationic surfactant molecules. Cationic surfactant molecules do not distribute evenly around the U₆₀ clusters during the interaction as expected. Instead, a small fraction of U₆₀ clusters attract almost all the surfactant molecules, leading to the self-assembly into supramolecular structures by using surfactant-U₆₀ complexes as building locks, and later further aggregate and precipitate based on hydrophobic interaction, whereas the rest of the clusters remained unbounded soluble macroions in bulk dispersion. This phenomenon nicely demonstrates a unique feature of macroion solutions. Considering that Debye-Hückel approximation is no longer valid in such solutions, the competition between the local electrostatic interaction and hydrophobic interaction becomes important to regulate the solution behaviors of macroions.

CO oxidation over the polyoxometalate-supported single-atom catalysts M1/POM (Fe, Co, Mn, Ru, Rh, Os, Ir, and Pt; POM = [PW12O40]3–): a computational study on the activation of surface oxygen species

Density functional theory calculations have been carried out to explore the catalytic performance of a series of the M₁/POM (M = Fe, Co, Mn, Ru, Rh, Os, Ir, and Pt; POM = [PW₁₂O₄₀]³⁻) single-atom catalysts for CO oxidation.

Synthesis and characterization of a Sb(v)-containing polyoxomolybdate serving as a catalyst for sulfoxidation

A Sb-containing Anderson-based polyoxomolybdate cluster, [(CH₃)₄N]₄H₈[Na₅Sb₃(Sb₂Mo₁₂O₅₇)]·17H₂O [1; (CH₃)₄N⁺ = TMA⁺], has been successfully synthesized by using an aqueous solution method and structurally characterized.

The main progress over the past decade and future outlook on high-nuclear transition-metal substituted polyoxotungstates: from synthetic strategies, structural features to functional properties

In this article, we discuss the synthetic methodologies, structural diversities and relevant properties of the high-nuclear TMSPTs reported in the past decade.

Design and construction of a thermotropic liquid crystal material based on high-nuclear transition-metal cluster-containing polyoxometalates

DODA⁺ was used as a surfactant to react with polyoxoanion [Ni₉(OH)₃(H₂O)₆(HPO₄)₂(PW₉O₃₄)₃]¹⁶⁻, resulting in an organic–inorganic hybrid complex SEP-1, the first liquid crystal materials based on high-nuclear transition-metal cluster-substituted polyoxoanions.

Synthesis of a novel CuI/CuII-containing sandwich-type cluster and its catalytic electron transfer property

A six-metal {Na₂Cu^ICu^II₃} sandwich-type heteropolyanion shows excellent catalytic activity for electron transfer reaction of ferricyanide to ferrocyanide by thiosulphate.

Structure, properties and reactivity of polyoxometalates: a theoretical perspective

In the thematic review dedicated to polyoxometalate (POM) chemistry published in Chemical Reviews in 1998, no contribution was devoted to theory. This is not surprising because computational modelling of molecular metal-oxide clusters was in its infancy at that time. Nowadays, the situation has completely changed and modern computational methods have been successfully applied to study the structure, electronic properties, spectroscopy and reactivity of POM clusters. Indeed, the progress achieved during the past decade has been spectacular and herein we critically review the most important papers to provide the reader with an almost complete perspective of the field.

Thermal-induced dynamic self-assembly of adenine-grafted polyoxometalate complexes

A new kind of organic-inorganic hybrid complexes based on polyoxometalate were synthesized through symmetrically grafting two adeninyl groups onto Anderson-type MnMo(6) clusters and encapsulating the clusters by organic surfactants. The resultant complexes exhibited thermal-induced dynamic self-assembly behaviors which greatly depended on the ambient temperature and the chain length of cationic surfactants. With the encapsulation of a short surfactant tetrabutyl ammonium, the complex assembled into fibrous, rod-like, and tubular architectures respectively upon heating; while for the case of using a long surfactant dimethyldioctadecyl ammonium as counter ions, the assemblies of the complex transformed from fibers to spheres with the increased temperature. Moreover, the two types of transformations were both reversible during a cooling process. The related mechanism was investigated by combining multiple characterization methods including X-ray crystallography, XPS, FT-IR and temperature-dependent (1)H NMR, which indicated that such a thermal-induced morphological transformation resulted from a synergy effect of the variation of the multiple hydrogen bonds among the complexes and the rearrangement of the surfactants surrounding the MnMo(6) clusters. These results demonstrated a new concept that hydrogen bonds can be rationally employed as the driving force for the fabrication of polyoxometalate-based materials with smart responsive properties.

High-precision imaging of an encapsulated Lindqvist ion and correlation of its structure and symmetry with quantum chemical calculations

Low-voltage aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy (AC-TEM) of discrete Lindqvist [W(6)O(19)](2-) polyoxometalate ions inserted from an ethanolic solution of [NBu(4)](2)[W(6)O(19)] into double walled carbon nanotubes (DWNTs) allows a higher precision structural study to be performed than previously reported. W atom column separations within the constituent W(6) tungsten cage can now be visualized with sufficient clarity that reliable correlation with structural predictions from density functional theory (DFT) can be achieved. Calculations performed on [W(6)O(19)](2-) anions encapsulated in carbon nanotubes show good agreement with measured separations between pairs of W(2) atom columns imaged within equatorial WO(6) polyhedral pairs and also single W atom positions located within individual axial WO(6) octahedra. Structural data from the tilted chiral encapsulating DWNT were also determined simultaneously with the anion structural measurements, allowing the influence of the conformation of the encapsulating tubule to be included in the DFT calculation and compared against that of other candidate encapsulating nanotubes. Additional DFT calculations performed using Li(+) cations as a model for the [NBu(4)](+) counterions indicate that the latter may help to induce charge transfer between the DWNT and the [W(6)O(19)](2-) ion and this may help to constrain the motion of the ion in situ.

Sugar-decorated dendritic nanocarriers: encapsulation and release of the octahedral rhenium cluster complex [Re6S8(OH)6]4-

The encapsulation of a nanometer-sized octahedral anionic rhenium cluster complex with six terminal hydroxo ligands [Re(6)S(8)(OH)(6)](4-) in maltose-decorated poly(propylene amine) dendrimers (POPAM, generation 4 and 5) has been investigated. Ultrafiltration experiments showed that maximal loading capacity of the dendrimers with the cluster complex is achieved after about ten hours in aqueous solution. To study the inclusion phenomena, three different methods have been applied: UV/Vis, time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS), and laser-induced liquid bead ion desorption mass spectrometry (LILBID-MS). From the results obtained, it could be concluded that: a) the hydrolytic stability of the rhenium cluster complex is significantly enhanced in the presence of dendritic hosts; b) the cluster anions are preferentially bound inside the dendrimers; c) the number of cluster complexes encapsulated in the dendrimers increases with rising dendrimer generation. On average, four to five cluster anions can preferentially be captured in the interior of sugar-coated dendritic carriers. An asymptotic progression of the release of cluster complexes from the loaded dendrimers was observed under physiologically relevant conditions (isotonic sodium chloride solution: approximately 93 % within 4 days for loaded POPAM-G4-maltose; approximately 86 % within 4 days for loaded POPAM-G5-maltose). These encapsulation and release properties of maltose-decorated nanocarriers imply the possibility for the development of the next generation of dendritic nanocarriers with specific targeting of destined tissue for therapeutic treatments.

Macroporous honeycomb films of surfactant-encapsulated polyoxometalates at air/water interface and their electrochemical properties

A series of surfactant-encapsulated polyoxometalates which have different compositions, shapes, and sizes, are able to self-assemble to the highly ordered honeycomb-structured macroporous films at the air/water interface without any extra moist airflow across the solution surface. The honeycomb film pores in the average diameter of 2-3 μm are obtained, which are independent of the polyoxometalates. It is speculated that the cooled micrometer water droplets act as the necessary templates for the formation of macropores, and the stability of these water droplets is crucial during the self-assembly. With increasing the concentration of surfactants, various morphologies from lowly ordered honeycomb films to highly ordered honeycomb films and then to disordered fragments can be modulated. The interfacial tension between chloroform solution and water droplets induces the changes of films. High-resolution TEM observations indicate a close-packed lamellar structure in the ordered honeycomb film walls. The self-assembly successfully performs the transfer of functional polyoxometalates from bulk solutions to interfacial films. Consequently, the produced honeycomb films present electronic activities, such as ferromagnetism and electrochemical properties. These detailed researches will enrich the studies based on materials obtained by encapsulations in cationic surfactants to construct newly nanostructures of polyoxometalates at interfaces, and promote the potential applications of the honeycomb films of surfactant-encapsulated polyoxometalates in advanced materials.

Hydrophilic macroionic solutions: what happens when soluble ions reach the size of nanometer scale?

Large, hydrophilic inorganic ions (mostly polyoxometalate macroions and cationic metal-organic hybrid nanocages) with high solubility in water and/or other polar solvents demonstrate unique solution behaviors. In dilute solutions, they behave significantly different from small simple ions (as described by the Debye-Hückel theory) because the macroions cannot be treated as point charges or large, insoluble colloidal suspensions (usually described by the DLVO theory) because the macroions form homogeneous, stable "real solutions". The size disparity between the macroions and their counterions results in complex macroion-counterion interaction and leads to the self-assembly of macroions into single-layered, hollow, spherical "blackberry" structures. The blackberries, with robust and very stable structures mimicking biological membranes, can adjust their size accurately and reversibly in response to the change of solvent content, charge density on the macroions, or in some cases merely solution pH. The blackberry membrane is permeable to small cations. The inorganic macroions with well-defined size, shape, mass, charge density (even accurately tunable within certain range), and no intramolecular interaction can be treated as simple model systems to understand the intermolecular interaction in polyelectrolyte solutions. The blackberry structures show certain similarities to the spherical virus capsids, from the overall structure to the kinetic properties of formation.

Photoluminescent honeycomb films templated by microwater droplets

The europium polyoxometalate anion, [EuW(10)O(36)](9-), can be transferred from an aqueous phase into a chloroform phase through encapsulation by dioctadecyldimethylammonium (DODMA(+)). The formed (DODMA)(9)[EuW(10)O(36)] complexes can self-assemble into ordered, uniform porous honeycomb films by using a simple solvent-evaporation method at the air/water interface without any extra moist airflow. TEM, SEM, and AFM observations show porous morphologies with pores having a diameter of about 2 microm and a wall depth of about 0.8 microm. The microlamellar structure and crystalline nanoaggregates of (DODMA)(9)[EuW(10)O(36)] complexes in films are characterized by XRD measurements and high-resolution TEM observations. During self-assembly into porous honeycomb films, it is speculated that the cooled microwater droplets that are induced by the quick evaporation of chloroform act as the templates for pores and that (DODMA)(9)[EuW(10)O(36)] complexes are deposited around pores. Because of the intrinsic fluorescence of [EuW(10)O(36)], the photoluminescent porous honeycomb films of (DODMA)(9)[EuW(10)O(36)] complexes can emit fluorescence when they are excited by UV light. It is expected that this will meet more requirements of new materials for fluorescence, separation membranes, microstructured electrode surfaces, containers, and reactors.

Rare sandwich-type polyoxomolybdates constructed from Di-/tetra-nuclear transition-metal clusters and trivacant keggin germanomolybdate fragments

Two types of rare sandwich-type germanomolybdates [Na(12)(H(2)O)(36)][Cu(2)(beta-Y-GeMo(9)O(33))(2)].3H(2)O (1), [N(CH(3))(4)](4) [Na(6)(H(2)O)(24)][Cr(2)(beta-Y-GeMo(9)O(33))(2)].7H(2)O (2), and [Na(11)(H(2)O)(25)]H[M(4)(H(2)O)(2)(alpha-B-GeMo(9)O(34))(2)].6H(2)O (M = Ni(II) for 3, M = Mn(II) for 4 and M = Co(II) for 5) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, ICP spectra, IR spectroscopy, UV spectroscopy, thermogravimetry (TG) analyses (for 1-3), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) (for 1 and 3), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) (for 1 and 3) and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. To our knowledge, 1-5 represent the first sandwich-type germanomolybdates containing both {beta-Y-GeMo(9)O(33)}/{alpha-B-GeMo(9)O(34)} fragments and transition-metal clusters. Interestingly, 1 and 2 display the rare dinuclear transition-metal substituted sandwich-type structures with unusual trivacant {beta-Y-GeMo(9)O(33)} germanomolybdate units whereas 3-5 exhibit the first tetranuclear transition-metal substituted sandwich-type structures with familiar trivacant {alpha-B-GeMo(9)O(34)} germanomolybdate units. Surface photovoltage spectroscopy (SPS) and electric field induced surface photovoltage spectroscopy (EFISPS) measurements reveal that 1 and 3 bear the behavior of the n-type semiconductor. Magnetic measurements indicate 1 and 3 demonstrate antiferromagnetic exchange interactions and ferromagnetic exchange interactions, respectively.