Organoarsonates Enable Single-Site Condensation of Hexalacunary {P2W12} Polyoxotungstates

A systematic study of the condensation reactions of arylarsonic-functionalized [α-P2W12O48]14- units in acidic aqueous media identified that the specific presence of an amino group in the ortho position of the phenyl rings induces a dimerization process that allowed isolation of discrete dimeric polyanions [(o-H2N-C6H4-AsO3)4P4W24O85]14- (1) with an unprecedented polyoxometalate skeleton characterized by two seminal {P2W12} groups joined via a single W-O-W bridge. At the same time, addition of divalent transition metal ions (MnII, CoII, and NiII) in the reaction mixture directed a condensation process on a completely different pathway resulting in one-dimensional (1D) coordination polymers based on V-shaped [{M(H2O)4}P4W24O92(C6H6AsNO)2]14- polyanions (M = MnII (2), CoII (3), and NiII (4)). All polyanions were isolated as hydrated mixed potassium/dimethylammonium salts and thoroughly characterized in the solid state. 31P NMR studies showed that the discrete cluster 1 is comparatively stable in 1 M LiCl aqueous solution and thus represents a potential precursor for subsequent reactions.

Hexalacunary [α-H2 P2 W12 O48 ]12- Wells-Dawson Anion: X-ray Crystal Structural Evidence and Oligomerization to WO(OH2 )4+ -Bridged Dimer and Trimers

We report the first single-crystal X-ray structural evidence of the potassium salt of the hexalacunary [α-H2 P2 W12 O48 ]12- (abbreviated as {P2 W12 }) anion after its discovery by Contant and Ciabrini in 1977. In addition, we observed oligomerization of {P2 W12 } into a {WO(OH2 )}4+ -bridged Pacman-shaped [{WO(OH2 )}(α-HP2 W12 O48 )2 ]22- ({P4 W25 }) dimer and a cyclic [{WO(OH2 )}3 (P2 W12 O48 )3 ]30- ({P6 W39 }) trimer. The three phosphotungstate anions were synthesized through recrystallization of (NH4 )12 [α-H2 P2 W12 O48 ] from slightly alkaline (HOCH2 )3 CNH2 /KCl, CH3 NH3 Cl/KCl, and CH3 NH3 Cl/NH4 Cl solutions. The structure of {P2 W12 } is derived from [α-P2 W18 O62 ]6- that has six tungsten atoms one from each polar group and four from the belt-removed, and the center of the lacunary site is capped by a potassium cation. Structures of {P4 W25 } and {P6 W39 } are constructed by connecting two and three {P2 W12 } units with {WO(OH2 )}4+ , respectively. The isolation of a pure {P6 W39 } phosphotungstate framework without coordination with transition metal cations is unprecedented. Powder X-ray diffraction confirmed the bulk purity of these compounds, indicating that selective crystallization was achieved through the selection of countercations and pH.

Immobilization of carbonyl rhenium tripods on the surface of a trinickel-substituted Dawson-type polyoxotungstate

A monomeric trinickel(ii)-substituted phosphotungstate [H₉P₂W₁₅O₆₂Ni₃]⁹⁻ ion is stabilized by grafting three {Re(CO)₃} organometallic groups on the surface of a trinickel cluster for the first time. The resulting polyanions [P₂W₁₅O₅₆Ni₃(H₂O)₃(μ₃-OH)₃(Re(CO)₃)₃]⁶⁻ stacked along the a-axis to form a wavy line.

The homometallic polyoxotungstate archetype {P4W24}

Integration of phenylphosphonate and phenylarsonate groups render the {P₂W₁₂}-based polyoxotungstate {P₄W₂₄} accessible, yet still sufficiently reactive for consecutive functionalization steps.

Two New Tetravacant Organometallic Keggin-Type Heteropolyoxomolybdates-Supported Manganese Carbonyl Derivatives

Two novel heteropolyoxomolybdate [XMo₈O₃₁]ⁿ⁻ (X = Ge(1) or P(2)) manganese carbonyl derivatives [(CH₃)₄N]₆H₆{Mn^II(GeMo₈O₃₁)[Mn^I(CO)₃]₂}₂·12H₂O (1) and [(CH₃)₄N]₄H₆{Mn^II(PMo₈O₃₁)[Mn^I(CO)₃]₂}₂·14H₂O (2), have been successfully synthesized and characterized in the solid state by single crystal X-ray diffraction, IR and thermogravimetric analysis, and in solution by UV-Vis spectroscopy and electrochemistry. The two polyoxomolybdate-based organometallic compounds 1 and 2 represent rare examples of transition metal sandwich-based polyoxometalate metal carbonyl derivatives (PMCDs), in which the organic-inorganic hybrids are composed of four Mn(CO)₃⁺ groups symmetrically occupied the tetravacant sites of dimeric heteropolyoxomolybdate {Mn₂(XMo₈O₃₁)₂}ⁿ⁻ through Mn^I-O-Mo bonds. The carbonyl functionalized Mn atoms are octahedrally coordinated via three μ₂-oxygens of the [XMo₈O₃₁]ⁿ⁻ unit and three carbonyl carbon atoms. Interestingly, 1 and 2 form a psedocuboidal ring Mn(CO)₃Mo₃O₁₂ with {Mn(CO)₃}⁺ occupying the three fold axis of the Mo₃O₁₂ octahedral triad. Beside this, the two centrally placed adjacent Mn^II atoms show intramolecular Mn∙∙∙Mn interactions of 3.11 and 3.16 Å in 1 and 2, respectively. Significant n→π* and O···O intermolecular interactions between the orthogonally aligned adjacent carbonyl groups through the overlap of lone-pair electrons on oxygen atoms with the antibonding orbital (π*) of the adjacent carbony carbon atom of the subsequent units in 1 and 2 were observed. The electrochemical properties of the two compounds were also been investigated.

Chirality specific and spatially uniform synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes from a sputtered Co-W bimetallic catalyst

Synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with well-defined atomic arrangements has been widely recognized in the past few decades as the biggest challenge in the SWNT community, and has become a bottleneck for the application of SWNTs in nano-electronics. Here, we report a selective synthesis of (12, 6) SWNTs with an enrichment of 50%-70% by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) using sputtered Co-W as a catalyst. This is achieved under much milder reduction and growth conditions than those in the previous report using transition-metal molecule clusters as catalyst precursors (Nature, 2014, 510, 522). Meanwhile, in-plane transmission electron microscopy unambiguously identified an intermediate structure of Co6W6C, which is strongly associated with selective growth. However, most of the W atoms disappear after a 5 min CVD growth, which implies that anchoring W may be important in this puzzling Co-W system.

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.

Two new members of the niobium-substituted polytungstophosphate family based on hexalacunary [H2P2W12O48]12− building blocks

Herein we present two structurally novel nanoscale clusters [{Nb₆(O₂)₄P₂W₁₂O₅₇}₂]²⁰⁻ (1) and [{P₂W₁₂Nb₇O₆₃(H₂O)₂}₄{Nb₄O₄(OH)₆}]³⁰⁻ (2) formed by controlling the reaction parameters.

Polyoxometalate based open-frameworks (POM-OFs)

Polyoxometalate-based open frameworks (POM-OFs) are extended architectures incorporating metal-oxide cluster units and comprise an emergent family of materials with a large diversity of topologies, structural flexibility and functionality at the nanoscale.

Three molybdophosphates based on Strandberg-type anions and Zn(ii)-H2biim/H2O subunits: syntheses, structures and catalytic properties

Three Zn(ii)-complex-supporting Strandberg-type molybdophosphates have been synthesized, and they represent the first example of Strandberg-type POMs used as catalysts for an organic reaction.

Formation, self-assembly and transformation of a transient selenotungstate building block into clusters, chains and macrocycles

The one-pot syntheses of a series of dimeric and trimeric selenotungstates based on the [Se₂W₁₂O₄₆]¹²⁻ unit are presented alongside the structure of the tetrameric [Se₈W₄₈O₁₇₆]³²⁻ wheel.