Inorganic crown: the host–guest chemistry of a high nuclearity ‘Celtic-ring’ isopolyoxotungstate [H12W36O120]12−

[Ba13Sb36Cl34O54]8-: high-nuclearity cluster for the assembly of nanocluster-based compounds

Herein, we report two nanocluster-based compounds built on an unprecedented cluster [Ba₁₃Sb₃₆Cl₃₄O₅₄]^8-, which represents the first example of a discrete alkaline earth (AE)-containing oxochloride cluster and the largest Sb-based oxohalide cluster to date; the proton-conducting property of the compounds was investigated.

Recent advances in isopolyoxotungstates and their derivatives

During the past decade, isopolyoxotungstates (iso-POTs) and their derivatives have been greatly developed due to their unique structures and potential applications in luminescence, magnetism, catalysis etc. This brief review is principally focused on the main research progress on iso-POTs, iso-POT-based transition-metal derivatives, iso-POT-based rare-earth derivatives, iso-POT-based organometallic derivatives and iso-POT-based heterometallic derivatives, and gives a summary of some representative examples of their syntheses, structures and related properties. In addition, an outlook on the future of this area is presented in the final section. We believe that this systematic commentary on iso-POTs and their derivatives will not only disclose a rich set of iso-POT structures, but also reveal a more promising direction for the further functionalization of iso-POTs.

Coding the Assembly of Polyoxotungstates with a Programmable Reaction System

Chemical transformations are normally conducted in batch or flow mode, thereby allowing the chemistry to be temporally or spatially controlled, but these approaches are not normally combined dynamically. However, the investigation of the underlying chemistry masked by the self-assembly processes that often occur in one-pot reactions and exploitation of the potential of complex chemical systems requires control in both time and space. Additionally, maintaining the intermediate constituents of a self-assembled system "off equilibrium" and utilizing them dynamically at specific time intervals provide access to building blocks that cannot coexist under one-pot conditions and ultimately to the formation of new clusters. Herein, we implement the concept of a programmable networked reaction system, allowing us to connect discrete "one-pot" reactions that produce the building block{W11O38} ≡ {W11} under different conditions and control, in real time, the assembly of a series of polyoxometalate clusters {W12O42} ≡ {W12}, {W22O74} ≡ {W22} 1a, {W34O116} ≡ {W34} 2a, and {W36O120} ≡ {W36} 3a, using pH and ultraviolet-visible monitoring. The programmable networked reaction system reveals that is possible to assemble a range of different clusters using {W11}-based building blocks, demonstrating the relationship between the clusters within the family of iso-polyoxotungstates, with the final structural motif being entirely dependent on the building block libraries generated in each separate reaction space within the network. In total, this approach led to the isolation of five distinct inorganic clusters using a "fixed" set of reagents and using a fully automated sequence code, rather than five entirely different reaction protocols. As such, this approach allows us to discover, record, and implement complex one-pot reaction syntheses in a more general way, increasing the yield and reproducibility and potentially giving access to nonspecialists.

pH-controlled and sulfite anion-directed assembly of a family of cerium(III)-containing polyoxotungstates clusters

A versatile one-pot strategy was employed to synthesize five cerium(III)-containing polyoxotungstate nanoclusters through pH-controlled and sulfite anion-directed assembly: [C2H8N]3Na7[Ce2(H2O)6W22O72(OH)4]·20H2O (1) at pH 5.0; [C2H8N]8Na16[Ce4(H2O)12W44O144(OH)12]·23H2O (2) at pH 4.5; [C2H8N]2Na4Ce2[Ce2(H2O)10W28O92(OH)2]·27H2O (3) at pH 2.8-3.3; [C2H8N]2Na7[{α-SW7O28}{Ce2(H2O)6}(W3O6){α-SW9O32}{α-SW9O31(OH)}]·18H2O (4) at pH 2.5; [C2H8N]2Na18[Ce2(H2O)9W36O110(OH)12]2·30H2O (5) at pH 1.5. These compounds were characterized by single-crystal X-ray structure analysis, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Moreover, their electrochemical properties were investigated. Single-crystal X-ray structure analysis revealed that 1 and 2 were di- and tetra-cerium(III)-bridged polyoxotungstates, constructed from two different types of lacunary {W11} units. 3 composed of the well-known cerium(III)-stabilized {W28} unit and organic amine-sodium-cerium cations, was isolated in the pH range 2.8-3.3. In this reaction system, the SO3(2-) anion acted as a heteroanion template at a lower pH 2.5. 4 was isolated by the combination of cerium(III) centers and SO3(2-) heteroanion template, which is the first lanthanide-containing polyoxotungstates with sulfur heteroatoms, and the 4f metal cerium(III) centers in 4 both have eight-coordinated modes and the SO3(2-) heteroanion templates display μ7 and μ9 coordination modes. At a much lower pH 1.5, the polyanion of 5 was obtained, two triangular-shaped {W36} subunits were bridged by the cerium(III) ions, resulting in the largest lanthanide-containing iso-polyoxotungstates known to date.

Nanoscale polyoxometalate-based inorganic/organic hybrids

The latest advances in the area of polyoxometalate (POM)-based inorganic/organic hybrid materials prepared by self-assembly, covalent modification, and supramolecular interactions are presented. This Review is composed of five sections and documents the effect of organic cations on the formation of novel POMs, surfactant encapsulated POM-based hybrids, polymeric POM/organic hybrid materials, POMs-containing ionic crystals, and covalently functionalized POMs. In addition to their role in the charge-balancing, of anionic POMs, the crucial role of organic cations in the formation and functionalization of POM-based hybrid materials is discussed.

Giant Polyniobate Clusters Based on [Nb7O22]9− Units Derived from a Nb6O19 Precursor

Rational self-assembly of hexaniobate Lindqvist-type precursor [HNb6O19]7- with soluble Cu2+ salts utilizing different strategies produces a series of giant polyniobate clusters, namely, (H2en)1.25[Cu(en)2(H2O)]2Cl4[Nb24O72H21.5]7 H2O (1; en: ethylenediamine), [Cu(en)2]3[Cu(en)2(H2O)]9[{H2Nb6O19} subset{[({KNb24O72H10.25}{Cu(en)2})2{Cu3(en)3(H2O)3}{Na1.5Cu1.5(H2O)8}{Cu(en)2}4]6}]144 H2O (2), K12Na4[H23NaO8Cu24(Nb7O22)8]106 H2O (3), and K16Na12[H9Cu25.5O8(Nb7O22)8] 73.5 H2O (4). Their structures were determined and further characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, IR and Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and elemental analysis. Structural analyses reveal that compound 2 comprises a giant capsule anion based on a wheel-shaped cluster encapsulating a Lindqvist diprotonated cluster [H2Nb6O19]6- unit, and forms a honeycomb-like structure with the inclusion of Lindqvist-type anions [H2Nb6O19]6- in the holes, whereas 3 and 4 represent an unprecedented giant cube-shaped framework. All the compounds are built from [Nb7O22]9- fundamental building blocks. Solution Raman spectroscopy studies of 2 and 3 reveal that the solid-state structures of these polyniobate cluster anions disassemble and exist in the form of the [Nb6O19]8- unit in solution. Magnetic susceptibility measurement of 3 shows antiferromagnetic coupling interactions between CuII ions with the spin-canting phenomenon.

Polyoxometalate clusters, nanostructures and materials: From self assembly to designer materials and devices

Polyoxometalates represent a diverse range of molecular clusters with an almost unmatched range of physical properties and the ability to form structures that can bridge several length scales. The new building block principles that have been discovered are beginning to allow the design of complex clusters with desired properties and structures and several structural types and novel physical properties are examined. In this critical review the synthetic and design approaches to the many polyoxometalate cluster types are presented encompassing all the sub-types of polyoxometalates including, isopolyoxometalates, heteropolyoxometalates, and reduced molybdenum blue systems. As well as the fundamental structure and bonding aspects, the final section is devoted to discussing these clusters in the context of contemporary and emerging interdisciplinary interests from areas as diverse as anti-viral agents, biological ion transport models, and materials science.

Exploiting the multifunctionality of organocations in the assembly of hybrid polyoxometalate clusters and networks

Assembly of an unprecedented [(P(V)Mn(II)W(VI)(11)O(39))2{P(V)O(4)}](13-) and a [P(2)Mn(4)W(18)O(68)](10-) cluster have been observed and structurally characterised and cryospray mass spectroscopic ionization (CSI) has been used to observe one of the very reactive building blocks linking solid state with solution studies.