Two nickel-added poly(polyoxometalate)s built of Keggin-type {Ni6PW9} and Anderson-type NiW6O24via WO4/Sb2O bridges and Ni-O-W linkages with efficient hydrogen evolution activity

Two Ni-added poly(polyoxometalate)s built of Keggin-type {Ni6PW9} and Anderson-type NiW6O24 units via WO4/Sb2O bridges and Ni-O-W linkages, Na4H8[Ni(enMe)2][(Sb2O)2(NiW6O24)-{Ni12O2(OH)4(enMe)4(H2O)3(WO4)2(B-α-PW9O34)2}2]·39H2O (1) and H9[Ni(en)2(H2O)][Ni0.5(en)2(H2O)][Ni-(enMe)2(H2O)][(Sb2O)2(NiW6O24){Ni12O2(OH)4(en)2(enMe)2(H2O)3(WO4)2}-{Ni12O2(OH)4(en)4(H2O)3(WO4)2}(B-α-PW9O34)4]·45H2O (2), have been hydrothermally synthesized and characterized, in which the {Ni12(WO4)2(PW9)2} subunit was obtained by the synergistic directing effect of 2 lacunary PW9O34 (PW9) fragments and further linked by a central Anderson-type (Sb2O)2(NiW6O24) bridge. Both compounds represent the first example of Ni-added polyoxometalates (POMs) simultaneously based on Keggin-type and Anderson-type POM components. Photocatalytic studies revealed that 2 can work as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst towards a light-driven H2 evolution reaction, achieving a hydrogen evolution rate of as high as 19 214 μmol g-1 h-1 (TON = 1500), which is superior to most of the reported POM-based heterogeneous catalysts.

A sandwiched Co4-added polyoxometalate for efficient visible light-driven hydrogen evolution

A new Co4-added polyoxometalate (CoAP) Cs4[(Co(H2O)5)2{(μ2-Co(H2O)4)2Co4(H2O)2(B-α-GeW9O34)2}]·6H2O (1) has been made using a lacunary directing strategy under hydrothermal conditions. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis demonstrated that 1 is a one-dimensional (1D) chain, in which CoAP is linked by cobalt-oxygen octahedra to form a 1D structure with excellent chemical stability. The visible light-driven H2 evolution test demonstrated that 1 has high activity, with an H2 evolution rate of 1485.95 μmol h-1 g-1. PXRD and FT-IR tests demonstrated that compound 1 exhibits excellent heterogeneous catalytic stability.

Synthesis and Characterization of 6-Ti-Substituted Polyoxomolybdate with High Catalytic Activity for Sulfide Oxidation

A 6-Ti-substituted polyoxometalate, (NH4)5Cs7Na3H2[Cs@(Ti2GeMo10O39)3]·34H2O (1), was synthesized by reacting (NH4)6Mo7O24·4H2O, GeO2, and TiOSO4 through the conventional aqueous method. Polyanion 1a is composed of three {Ti2GeMo10} segments linked by Ti-O-Ti linkages and shows a trefoil-shaped structure. Furthermore, one Cs+ cation is encapsulated in the cavity of 1a. Notably, it possesses the highest number of Ti centers among the reported polyoxomolybdates. In addition, serving as a high-efficiency heterogeneous catalyst, 1 enables the conversion of methyl phenyl sulfide within 20 min, yielding 96.4% of the corresponding sulfoxide with good recyclability.

A Hexadecanuclear Cobalt-Added Tungstogermanate Containing Counter Cobalt Hydrates: Synthesis, Structure and Photocatalytic Properties

The synthesis and exploration of the properties of structurally-new polyoxometalates (POMs) has been attracting considerable research interest. In this work, a hexadecanuclear cobalt-added tungstogermanate, H₃₁(NH₄)₅Na₁₆{Co^Ⅲ(H₂O)₆}₄{[Co^Ⅱ₄(μ₃-OH)₃(PO₄)]₄(A-α-GeW₉O₃₄)₄}₂·23-H₂O (1), was synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and characterized by various techniques. Compound 1 can effectively drive the heterogeneous photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction in the presence of [Ir(ppy)₂(dtbbpy)][PF₆] as the photosensitizer, with triethanolamine (TEOA) and N-Hydroxy succinimide (NHS) used as the dual sacrificial reagents. Control experiments revealed the important role of NHS in enhancing the hydrogen-evolution activities. Under optimal catalytic conditions, a hydrogen yield of 54.21 μmol was achieved after 10-h photocatalysis, corresponding to a hydrogen evolution rate of 1807.07 μmol·g^-1·h^-1. Stability studies demonstrated that catalyst 1 can be isolated and reused for three successive photocatalytic cycles with negligible decline of the H₂ yield, indicating the stability and recycling robustness of catalyst 1.

40Ni-Added Poly(polyoxometalate) Assembled by {Ni6GeW9} and {Ni8(GeW9)2} Units: Structure, Magnetic, and Heterogeneous Catalysis Properties

A novel 40Ni-added germanotungstate, Cs₈K₁₄Na₃H₃{[Ni₆(OH)₃(H₂O)₆(B-α-GeW₉O₃₄)]₂[Ni₈(μ₆-O)(μ₂-OH)₂ (μ₃-OH)₂(H₂O)B₂O₃(OH)₂(B-α-GeW₉O₃₄)₂]}₂·84H₂O (1), was made by the reaction of the trivacant [A-α-GeW₉O₃₄]^10- ({GeW₉}) precursor with Ni²⁺ cations and B₅O₈^-, and systematically investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and powder X-ray diffraction. Single crystal X-ray analysis indicates that the polyoxoanion of 1 is a novel octamer constructed by {Ni₆GeW₉} and {Ni₈(GeW₉)₂} structural building units via Ni-O═W linkages. The magnetic behavior shows the existence of overall ferromagnetic interactions among the Ni²⁺ centers in compound 1. Photocatalytic H₂ production studies have implied that 1 can work as a heterogeneous catalyst for hydrogen production with decent robustness and recyclability.

A {Co9}-Added Polyoxometalate for Efficient Visible-Light-Driven Hydrogen Evolution

A polyanion cluster H₆Na₈Cs₃[Co₉(μ₃-OH)₃(H₂O)₆(HPO₄)₂(B-α-PW₉O₃₄)₃]Cl·40H₂O (1) was made with the guidance of the lacunary directing strategy under hydrothermal conditions. Compound 1 was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, powder X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis, respectively. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses showed that 1 consists of three anions [B-α-PW₉O₃₄]^9- and a cyclic cationic [Co₉(μ₃-OH)₃(H₂O)₆]¹⁵⁺ and two anions HPO₄^2-. Variable-magnetic properties indicate antiferromagnetic interactions in 1. Visible-light-driven hydrogen evolution tests demonstrated that 1 was an efficient water reduction catalyst with an H₂ evolution rate of 1217.6 μmol h^-1 g^-1.

High-Nuclear Ni-Substituted Poly(polyoxometalate) Containing an Anderson-like {Cs7} Cluster

A novel high-nuclear Ni-substituted poly(polyoxometalate) [poly(POM)], [H₂N(CH₃)₂]₂Na₁₈Cs₂H₁₃[(Cs₇(H₂O)₆)@{(PO₄)-@(Ni₄(OH)₃(WO₄))₃@(B-α-PW₉O₃₄)₃}₂]·30H₂O (1), has been successfully developed and structurally characterized. The polyoxoanion of 1 can be viewed as a unique huge sandwich structure made of an unprecedented Cs₇(H₂O)₆ ({Cs₇}) cluster core encapsulated by two trimeric [(PO₄)@(Ni₄(OH)₃(WO₄))₃@(B-α-PW₉O₃₄)₃]^21- subunits, in which the {Cs₇} cluster presents an interesting Anderson-like arrangement and is the first example of a classical POM configuration based on the alkali metal cluster in the POM chemistry. The polyoxoanion can also be described as an unusual [(Cs₇(H₂O)₆)@{(PO₄)@(Ni₄(OH)₃(WO₄))₃}₂]¹⁹⁺ cluster packaged by six {PW₉} fragments. Furthermore, investigations on the Knoevenagel condensation reaction reveal that 1 has good catalytic activity for the condensation of various aldehydes and malononitrile into corresponding products with excellent yields.

Designed Syntheses of Three {Ni6PW9}-Based Polyoxometalates, from Isolated Cluster to Cluster-Organic Helical Chain

Three new hexa-Ni-substituted Keggin-type polyoxometalates (POMs), [Ni6(OH)3- (DACH)3(H2O)6(PW9O34)]·31H2O (1), [Ni(DACH)2][Ni6(OH)3(DACH)3(HMIP)2(H2O)2(PW9O34)]·56 H2O (2), and [Ni(DACH)2][Ni6(OH)3(DACH)2(AP)(H2O)5(PW9O34)]·2H2O (3) (DACH = 1,2-Diami- nocyclohexane, MIP = 5-Methylisophthalate, AP = Adipate) were successfully made in the presence of DACH under hydrothermal conditions. 1 is an isolated hexa-Ni-substituted Keggin unit decorated by DACH. In order to further construct POM cluster-organic frameworks (POMCOFs) on the basis of 1, by analyzing the steric hindrances and orientations of the POM units, the rigid HMIP and flexible AP ligands were successively incorporated, and another anionic monomeric POM 2 and the new 1D POM cluster organic chain (POMCOC) 3 were obtained. HMIP ligand still acts as a decorating group on the Ni6 core of 2 but results in the different spatial arrangement of the {Ni6PW9} units. AP ligands in 3 successfully bridge adjacent isolated POM cluster units to 1D POMCOC with left-hand helices. The AP in 3 is the longest aliphatic carboxylic acid ligand in POMs, and the 1D POM cluster-AP helical chain represents the first 1D POMCOC with a helical feature.

Hepta-Zr-Incorporated Polyoxometalate Assembly

Driven by the synergistic-directing effect of the lacunary fragments, [B-α-GeW₉O₃₄]^10- and [B-α-GeW₁₁O₃₉]^8-, an unprecedented hepta-Zr-substituted polyoxometalate (POM) assembly K₂Na₆H₁₀(Hpy)₃[SbZr₇O₆(OH)₄(B-α-GeW₉O₃₄)₂(B-α-GeW₁₁O₃₉)₂]·28H₂O (1) was made under hydrothermal condition and structurally characterized. Of which, a unique hepta-Zr cluster, [SbZr₇O₆(OH)₄]¹⁵⁺ core, was built by two trilacunary [B-α-GeW₉O₃₄]^10- fragments and two monolacunary [B-α-GeW₁₁O₃₉]^8- fragments and further arranged in a mode of a vertical cross and formed a pseudo-tetrahedron geometry. Compound 1 features the first Zr₇-cluster-substituted POM. Moreover, 1 is an effective heterogeneous catalyst for the catalytic oxidation of sulfides into the corresponding sulfones with H₂O₂, manifesting distinguished conversion, excellent yield, and desired recyclability.

Chiral {Ni6PW9} Cluster-Organic Framework: Synthesis, Structure, and Properties

A chiral three-dimensional polyoxometalate cluster-organic framework (POMCOF) H₃[(btc)Ni₆(μ₃-OH)₃(H₂O)₅(B-α-PW₉O₃₄)]·17H₂O (1, btc = 1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylate) has been made under hydrothermal conditions in the absence of amine or chiral starting reagents. 1 shows high stability in CH₃CN/DMF (1:3), acidic, and basic solutions with the pH ranging from 2 to 12 for 5 days. The UV-vis reflectance spectra and Mott-Schottky measurements reveal that 1 could be a suitable catalyst for photocatalysis. Visible-light-driven H₂ evolution studies have demonstrated that 1 is an ecofriendly, efficient, and recyclable catalyst with a H₂ evolution rate of 1058.24 μmol h^-1g^-1. Nonlinear optical (NLO) measurement reveals that 1 exhibits a second-harmonic generation (SHG) response of about 1.4 times that of KH₂PO₄ (KDP), indicating that 1 is a potential NLO material as well.

NiII 36 -Containing 54-Tungsto-6-Silicate: Synthesis, Structure, Magnetic and Electrochemical Studies

The 36-NiII -containing 54-tungsto-6-silicate, [Ni36 (OH)18 (H2 O)36 (SiW9 O34 )6 ]6- (Ni36 ) was synthesized by a simple one-pot reaction of the Ni2 -pivalate complex [Ni2 (μ-OH2 )(O2 CCMe3 )4 (HO2 CCMe3 )4 ] with the trilacunary [SiW9 O34 ]10- polyanion precursor in water and structurally characterized by a multitude of physicochemical techniques including single-crystal XRD, FTIR, TGA, elemental analysis, magnetic and electrochemical studies. Polyanion Ni36 comprises six equivalent {NiII 6 SiW9 } units which are linked by Ni-O-W bridges forming a macrocyclic assembly. Magnetic studies demonstrate that the {Ni6 } building blocks in Ni36 remain magnetically intact while forming a hexagonal ring with antiferromagnetic exchange interactions between adjacent {Ni6 } units. Electrochemical studies indicate that the first reduction is reversible and associated with the WVI/V couple, whereas the second reduction is irreversible attributed to the NiII/0 couple.

{Ti6}/{Ti10} Wheel Cluster Substituted Silicotungstate Aggregates

Two novel Ti-oxo wheel cluster substituted silicotungstates (STs) [H₂N(CH₃)₂]₉H₉[Ti₆O₆(SiW₁₀O₃₇)₃]·11H₂O (1) and [H₂N(CH₃)₂]₁₆H₁₀[Ti₁₀O₁₁(SiW₁₀O₃₇)₂(SiW₉O₃₅)₂]·14H₂O (2) have been made by hydrothermal reactions. The polyoxoanion of 1 is a ring-shaped trimer where a Ti₆O₆ ({Ti₆}) wheel cluster is encapsulated by three divacant [SiW₁₀O₃₇]^10- (SiW₁₀O₃₇) fragments. However, 2 is built by two divacant SiW₁₀O₃₇ units and two rare trivacant [SiW₉O₃₅]^12- (SiW₉O₃₅) fragments and further installs an unprecedented Ti₁₀O₁₁ ({Ti₁₀}) double-wheel cluster. To the best of our knowledge, 2 is rare in POM chemistry. Studies on the catalytic oxidation properties reveal that 1 exhibits high catalytic activity toward the oxidation of various sulfides using H₂O₂ as an oxidant. Furthermore, 1 can be facilely recycled and reused for at least five cycles without obvious loss of catalytic activity.

Structural Chemistry of Giant Metal Based Supramolecules

The review presents a bird-eye view on the state of research in the field of giant nonbiological discrete metal complexes and ions of nanometer size, which are structurally characterized by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction, using the crystal structure as a common key feature. The discussion is focused on the main structural features of the metal clusters, the clusters containing compact metal oxide/hydroxide/chalcogenide core, ligand-based metal-organic cages, and supramolecules as well as on the aspects related to the packing of the molecules or ions in the crystal and the methodological aspects of the single-crystal neutron and X-ray diffraction of these compounds.

Two Ni-Substituted Trilacunary Keggin-Type Polyoxometalates: Syntheses, Crystal Structures, NLO Studies, and Magnetic Properties

Two Ni-substituted polyoxometalates (NiSPs), [Ni₆(Py)₆(H₂O)₅(μ₃-OH)₃(PW₉O₃₄)]₂·10H₂O (1), [Ni₇(Py)₆(Im)(H₂O)₅O(WO₄)(μ₃-OH)₃(H₂PW₉O₃₄)]·3H₂O (2) (Py = pyridine, Im = imidazole), were successfully hydrothermally synthesized. Compounds 1 and 2 have significantly different configurations by introducing different amounts of imidazole ligands. For compound 1, two malposed {Ni₆(Py)₆PW₉} units that are face to face are bridged by two Ni-O-W bonds to constitute an isolated dimeric structure. Differently, the {Ni₇(Py)₆(Im)PW₉}₂ dimer in compound 2 connects with four adjacent dimers by four {WO₄} groups in an interesting two-dimensional (2-D) arrangement. The magnetism of compounds 1 and 2 was studied, and magnetic test results demonstrated that both compounds have ferromagnetic interactions between the nickel centers. Meanwhile, the third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) measurements indicated that compound 1 can serve as potential nonlinear optical materials.

{Cu8} Cluster-Sandwiched Polyoxotungstates and Their Polymers: Syntheses, Structures, and Properties

Four inorganic-organic hybrid octa-Cu cluster sandwiched polyoxotungstates (POTs), [Cu₈(H₂O)₂(en)₄(B-α-H₂SiW₉O₃₄)₂] (1), [Cu₈(H₂O)₂(en)₄(B-α-H₂GeW₉O₃₄)₂] (2), K₂[Cu₈(en)₄(B-α-HSiW₉O₃₄)₂]·6H₂O (3), and K₂[Cu₈(en)₄(B-α-HGeW₉O₃₄)₂]·2H₂O (4) (en = ethylenediamine), were hydrothermally made and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, infrared spectra, powder X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis, respectively. Structure analysis reveals that the polyoxoanion of 1/2 is a discrete dimer built by two trivalent Keggin [B-α-XW₉O₃₄]^10- (X = Si/Ge) fragments and one octa-Cu cluster, whereas 3 and 4 display a two-dimensional network built by octa-Cu-sandwiched POT units via substitution of coordinated water on polyanions of 1 and 2 and further expand into a three-dimensional framework via K cation bridges. Ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectra reveal that 1-4 are potential semiconductor materials. Moreover, its visible light-driven catalytic H₂ evolution activity, electrochemical properties, catalysis for oxygenation reactions of thioethers, and magnetic behaviors have been investigated in detail.

A μ-AsO4-Bridging Hexadecanuclear Ni-Substituted Polyoxotungstate

A novel tetrahedral μ-AsO₄-bridging hexadecanuclear Ni-substituted silicotungstate (ST) Na₂₁H₁₀[(AsO₄){Ni₈(OH)₆(H₂O)₂(CO₃)₂(A-α-SiW₉O₃₄)₂}₂]·60H₂O (1) was made by the reactions of trivacant [A-α-SiW₉O₃₄]^10- ({SiW₉}) units with Ni²⁺ cations and Na₃AsO₄·12H₂O and characterized by IR spectrometry, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). 1 contains a novel polyoxoanion [(AsO₄){Ni₈(OH)₆(H₂O)₂(CO₃)₂(A-α-SiW₉O₃₄)₂}₂]^31- built by four trivacant Keggin [A-α-SiW₉O₃₄]^10- fragments linked through an unprecedented [(AsO₄){Ni₈(OH)₆(H₂O)₂(CO₃)₂}₂]⁹⁺ cluster, where the tetrahedral AsO₄ acts as an exclusively μ₂-bridging unit to link multiple Ni centers; such a connection mode appears for the first time in polyoxometalate chemistry. Furthermore, the electrochemical and catalytic oxidation properties of compound 1 have been investigated.

A Giant 3d-4f Polyoxometalate Super-Tetrahedron with High Proton Conductivity

The assembly of gigantic heterometallic metal clusters remains a great challenge for synthetic chemistry. Herein, based on the slow release strategy of lanthanide ions and in situ formation of lacunary polyoxometalates, two giant 3d-4f polyoxometalate inorganic clusters [LaNi₁₂ W₃₅ Sb₃ P₃ O₁₃₉ (OH)₆ ]^23- (LaNi₁₂ ) and [La₁₀ Ni₄₈ W₁₄₀ Sb₁₆ P₁₂ O₅₆₈ (OH)₂₄ (H₂ O)₂₀ ]^86- (La₁₀ Ni₄₈ ) are obtained. The nanoscopic inorganic cluster La₁₀ Ni₄₈ possesses a super tetrahedron structure, which can be viewed as assembly from four LaNi₁₂ molecules encapsulating a central [La₆ (SbO₃ )₄ (H₂ O)₂₀ ]⁶⁺ octahedron core. This giant aesthetic La₁₀ Ni₄₈ tetrahedron containing 214 metal ions is the largest 3d-4f cluster reported thus far in polyoxometalate system. More interestingly, the LaNi₁₂ and La₁₀ Ni₄₈ display high stability in solution and La₁₀ Ni₄₈ displays excellent proton conductivity.

Two novel nickel cluster substituted polyoxometalates: syntheses, structures and their photocatalytic activities, magnetic behaviors, and proton conduction properties

A Ni₁₂-substituted POM and a Ni₆-substituted POM have been synthesized and characterized. The compounds show a moderate catalytic activity in visible-light-driven CO₂ reduction reactions, and can serve as potential proton conduction materials.

A bi-polyoxometallate-based host-guest metal-organic framework

Anionic POMs prefer to bond with positive metal cations instead of neutral or negative organic ligands. Therefore, it is challenging to synthesize POM-based MOFs, let alone bi-POM-based host-guest MOFs. In this work, an unprecedented bi-POM-based host-guest MOF, Na[Ni(enMe)2]4[Ni(enMe)2(H2O)2]2{[Ni6(μ3-OH)3(enMe)3 (SIP)1.5(B-α-PW9O34)]2[H3PNiW11O40]}·5enMe·33H2O (1), with Ni6-capped [PW9O34] as the node of the host framework and Keggin-type [PNiW11O40] units as the guest was synthesized. 1 showed excellent chemical stability towards aqueous solutions of pH 2-12 at both ambient and boiling temperature, providing opportunities for its application in fresh water harvesting from air.

Two new hexa-Ni-substituted polyoxometalates in the form of an isolated cluster and 1-D chain: syntheses, structures, and properties

Two new hexa-Ni-substituted polyoxometalates are made and characterized, exhibiting electrochemical performance and photocatalytic activity for the degradation of organic dyes under UV irradiation.

Stabilizing γ-Alkyltin-Oxo Keggin Ions by Borate Functionalization

We report a hierarchical self-assembly engineering of tin-oxo clusters from nanosized hydrophobic clusters to a single-layer film of assembled clusters. These clusters are derivatives of the previously reported Na-centered butyltin Keggin ions, but they are bicapped with butyltin and with borate ligands. The formulas γ-[( n-BuSn)₁₄(OCH₃)₁₀(OH)₃O₉(NaO₄)(HBO₃)₂] and γ-[( n-BuSn)₁₄(OCH₃)₁₀(OH)₃O₉(NaO₄)(PhBO₂)₂] were determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction and bulk solution characterization including small-angle X-ray scattering, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and multinuclear and multidimensional NMR (¹¹⁹Sn, ¹³C, and ¹H). Solution characterization confirms that borate functionalization inhibits the solution-phase β-γ Keggin isomer interconversion that was recognized prior for uncapped butyltin clusters, and in this case, the γ isomer is favored. The assembly of the γ-NaSn₁₄BO₃ clusters into a homogeneous Langmuir-Blodgett monolayer is the first step toward creating nanopatterned films for microelectronic devices.

A huge novel polyoxometalate-based cluster Fe10P4W32 exhibiting prominent electrocatalytic activity for the oxygen evolution reaction and third-order NLO properties

A novel high-nuclear POM-based cluster {Fe₁₀P₄W₃₂} consists of two inorganic blocks {P₂W₁₄} and four organic groups linked by ten iron ions.

Three new high-nuclear transition-metal-substituted heteropolytungstates: syntheses, crystal structures, magnetic studies and NLO properties

Three new nickel-cluster-substituted polyoxometalates (POMs), [Ni6(H2O)9(μ3-OH)3(HSiW9O34)]2·12H2O (1), [Ni(en)(H2O)3][Ni6(H2O)3(en)2L(μ3-OH)3(HSiW9O34)]2·9H2O (2) (en = ethylenediamine; L = C7H5O2 = benzoic acid) and [Ni6(L')6(CH3COO)(H2O)3(μ3-OH)3(HPW9O34)]2·9H2O (3) (L' = C5NH5 = pyridine) were successfully isolated under hydro-/solvothermal conditions. 1-3 were structurally characterized by single-crystal XRD, elemental analyses, PXRD, IR, and TGA. Compound 1 mainly consists of a pair of {Ni6SiW9} fragments and some water molecules. Interestingly, the whole structure can be regarded as the connection of {Ni6SiW9} and another unit rotated 180° through Ni-O-W bonds, forming a dimeric structure {Ni6SiW9}2. Compounds 2 and 3 also have an {Ni6XW9}2 (X = Si, P) dimer, but there is a big difference in the connection between {Ni6SiW9} units. On this basis, mono-dentate conjugated organic ligands (benzoic acid (L) and pyridine (L')) were successfully introduced. It is noteworthy that pyridine molecules were first integrated into {Ni6SiW9}-based clusters and 3 features the highest number of organic ligands (six pyridines per Ni6) in the reported {Ni6XW9}-based clusters. The introduction of organic ligands to compounds 2 and 3 can bring about better third-order nonlinear optical properties. Magnetic research indicated the existence of ferromagnetic interactions in 2-3.

Steam-assisted assemblies of {Ni6PW9}-based inorganic–organic hybrid chains: synthesis, crystal structures and properties

Three hexa-Ni-substituted Keggin phosphotungstate chains have been obtained through the SAC method, where H₂N-bdc and unprecedented {(Ni₆PW₉)PW₁₂} is reported for the first time.

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.

Chemical Stabilization and Electrochemical Destabilization of the Iron Keggin Ion in Water

The iron Keggin ion is identified as a structural building block in both magnetite and ferrihydrite, two important iron oxide phases in nature and in technology. Discrete molecular forms of the iron Keggin ion that can be both manipulated in water and chemically converted to the related metal oxides are important for understanding growth mechanisms, in particular, nonclassical nucleation in which cluster building units are preserved in the aggregation and condensation processes. Here we describe two iron Keggin ion structures, formulated as [Bi₆FeO₄Fe₁₂O₁₂(OH)₁₂(CF₃COO)₁₀(H₂O)₂]³⁺ (Kegg-1) and [Bi₆FeO₄Fe₁₂O₁₂(OH)₁₂(CF₃COO)₁₂]¹⁺ (Kegg-2). Experimental and simulated X-ray scattering studies show indefinite stability of these clusters in water from pH 1-3. The tridecameric iron Keggin-ion core is protected from hydrolysis by a synergistic effect of the capping Bi³⁺ cations and the trifluoroacetate ligands that, respectively, bond to the iron and bridge to the bismuth. By introducing electrons to the aqueous solution of clusters, we achieve complete separation of bismuth from the cluster, and the iron Keggin ion rapidly converts to magnetite and/or ferrihydrite, depending on the mechanism of reduction. In this strategy, we take advantage of the easily accessible reduction potential and crystallization energy of bismuth. Reduction was executed in bulk by chemical means, by voltammetry, and by secondary effects of transmission electron microscopy imaging of solutions. Prior, we showed a less stable analogue of the iron Keggin cluster converted to ferrihydrite simply upon dissolution. The prior and currently studied clusters with a range of reactivity provide a chemical system to study molecular cluster to metal oxide conversion processes in detail.

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.

A novel poly(polyoxometalate) built by {Cu9}/{Cu5} clusters and {PW9}/{PW10}/{PW11} lacunary fragments

The hydrothermal reactions of [A-α-PW9O34](9-) with CuCl2·2H2O in the presence of ethanediamine (en) and acetate afforded a novel poly(polyoxotungstate) containing different lacunary fragments: monolacunary {α-PW11O39}, dilacunary {α-PW10O37}, trilacunary {B-α-PW9O34}, etc. In addition, a cockhorse-like nona-copper {Cu9} slab is incorporated. Magnetic investigation indicates overall antiferromagnetic interactions in this compound.

A polyoxometalate–organic supramolecular nanotube with high chemical stability and proton-conducting properties

A novel polyoxometalate–organic supramolecular nanotube has been created, which has exceptional stability and proton-conducting properties.

Assembly of cyanometalate-functionalized phosphotungstates with magnetic properties and bifunctional electrocatalytic activities

Two cyanometalate-functionalized Dawson type phosphotungstates with a “Netherlands windmills” shape have been prepared under conventional reaction conditions. Their magnetic properties and electrocatalytic activity were investigated.