Diphosphoryl-functionalized Polyoxometalates: Structurally and Electronically Tunable Hybrid Molecular Materials

Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of a new class of hybrid Wells-Dawson polyoxometalate (POM) containing a diphosphoryl group (P2 O6 X) of the general formula [P2 W17 O57 (P2 O6 X)]6- (X=O, NH, or CR1 R2 ). Modifying the bridging unit X was found to impact the redox potentials of the POM. The ease with which a range of α-functionalized diphosphonic acids (X=CR1 R2 ) can be prepared provides possibilities to access diverse functionalized hybrid POMs. Compared to existing phosphonate hybrid Wells-Dawson POMs, diphosphoryl-substituted POMs offer a wider tunable redox window and enhanced hydrolytic stability. This study provides a basis for the rational design and synthesis of next-generation hybrid Wells-Dawson POMs.

Synthesis and electrochemical properties of a nickel(II) thiacalix[4]arene-based electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction

Thiacalix[4]arene with four sulfur-bridging atoms and four hydroxy coordinating groups in the lower rim is a promising candidate for powerful electrocatalytic hydrogen production. However, there are only a few examples reported in the literature where conjugated thiacalix[4]arene is used as a pre-catalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction. The present work evaluates the electrocatalytic performance of a nickel(II) coordination complex based on generic thiacalix[4]arene. The coordination complex is characterized by cyclic voltammetry, where two reduction peaks are observed at −0.57 and −1.33 V for the two redox couples Ni2+/Ni+ and Ni+/Ni, respectively. The proton reduction occurs at the second peak potential with a slight shift at about −1.0 V, with increasing peak currents directly related to the number of acetic acid equivalents. The maximum peak current was observed to be at about 67 µA for 20 equiv. of acetic acid.

Screening of biological properties of MoV2O2S2- and MoV2O4-based coordination complexes: Investigation of antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidative and antitumoral activities versus growing of Spirulina platensis biomass

This paper deals with the biological potential of coordination compounds based on binuclear core [Mo^V₂O₂E₂]²⁺ (E = O or S) coordinated with commercially available ligands such as oxalates (Ox^2-), L-cysteine (L-cys^2-), L-histidine (L-his^-), Iminodiacetate (IDA^2-), Nitrilotriacetate (HNTA^2- or NTA^3-) or ethylenediamine tetraacetate (EDTA^4-) by means of various in vitro assays in a screening approach. Results suggest that the obtained complexes show weak antibacterial and antifungal properties while not being cytotoxic on cancerous and mammalian cells. In contrast, [Mo₂O₂E₂(L-cys)₂]^2- complexes stand out as powerful antioxidant, whereas [Mo₂O₂E₂(EDTA)]^2- associating tetraphenylphosphonium counter-cations display strong antibiotic activity. Finally, some complexes have evidenced a positive activity towards the growing of spirulina platensis together with a modification of the proportions of biological components inside the cells. These findings reveal promising bioactivity of the bridged binuclear Mo^(+V) cores inside complexes and encourage further research for new highly active yet non-toxic molecules for biological and biomedical applications.

Electrochemical properties of the [SiW10O36(M2O2E2)]6− polyoxometalate series (M = Mo(v) or W(v); E = S or O)

New insights about the electrochemical properties of S-containing polyoxometalates. Electrochemical properties of the compounds γ-[SiW₁₀O₃₆(M₂O₂E₂)]⁶⁻ (M = Mo(v) or W(v); E = O²⁻ or S²⁻) in DMF.

High-field 95 Mo and 183 W static and MAS NMR study of polyoxometalates

The potential of high-field NMR to measure solid-state ⁹⁵ Mo and ¹⁸³ W NMR in polyoxometalates (POMs) is explored using some archetypical structures like Lindqvist, Keggin and Dawson as model compounds that are well characterized in solution. NMR spectra in static and under magic angle spinning (MAS) were obtained, and their analysis allowed extraction of the NMR parameters, including chemical shift anisotropy and quadrupolar coupling parameters. Despite the inherent difficulties of measurement in solid state of these low-gamma NMR nuclei, due mainly to the low spectral resolution and poor signal-to-noise ratio, the observed global trends compare well with the solution-state NMR data. This would open an avenue for application of solid-state NMR to POMs, especially when liquid-state NMR is not possible, e.g., for poorly soluble or unstable compounds in solution, and for giant molecules with slow tumbling motion. This is the case of Keplerate where we provide here the first NMR characterization of this class of POMs in the solid state. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Exploring structural complexity in the discovery and self-assembly of a family of nanoscale chalcoxides from {Se8Mo36} to {Se26Mo68}

Coordination modulation effects led to the generation of multi-component libraries gave rise to the formation of a new family of nanosized molecular chalcoxides of higher nuclearity and complexity.

Synthesis, characterization, and tuning of the liquid crystal properties of ionic materials based on the cyclic polyoxothiometalate [{Mo4O4S4(H2O)3(OH)2}2(P8W48O184)](36-)

A series of compounds resulting from the ionic association of a nanoscopic inorganic cluster of formula [K2NaxLiy{Mo4O4S4(OH)2(H2O)3}2(HzP8W48O184)]((34-x-y-z)-), 1, with several organic cations such as dimethyldioctadecylammonium DODA(+), trimethylhexadecylammonium TMAC16(+), alkylmethylimidazoliums mimCn(+) (n = 12-20) and alkyl-dimethylimidazoliums dmimCn(+) (n = 12 and 16) was prepared and characterized in the solid state by FT-IR, EDX, Elemental analysis, TGA and solid state NMR. The solid state NMR experiments performed on (1)H, (13)C and (31)P nuclei evidenced the interactions between the cations and 1 as well as the organization of the alkyl chains of the cations within the solid. Polarized optical microscopy, DSC and SA-XRD experiments implicated mesomorphic phases for DODA(+) and mimCn(+) salts of 1. The crystallographic parameters were determined and demonstrated that the inter-lamellar spacing could be controlled upon changing the length of the alkyl chain, a very interesting result if we consider the huge size of the inorganic cluster 1 and the simple nature of the cations.

Redox and acidic properties of chalcogenido-substituted mixed-metal polyoxoanions: a DFT study of α-[PW11O39ME]4− (M = Nb, Ta; E = O, S, Se)

Substitution of one O atom by S and Se atoms in POMs enhances the redox and acidic properties.

Synthesis, crystal structure and antitumor effect of a novel copper(II) complex bearing zoledronic acid derivative

A great majority of Cu(II) complexes currently studied in the anticancer research field exert their antiproliferative activities through ligand exchange. In this work, we present the synthesis and structural characterization of two novel Cu(II) complexes, {[Cu3(ZL)2(H2O)6]·6H2O}n (1) (ZL = 1-hydroxy-2-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)ethane-1,1-diyldiphosphonic acid) and [Cu(IPrDP)2]·3H2O (2) (IPrDP = 1-hydroxy-3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propane-1,1-diyldiphosphonic acid). Due to the insolubility of polymer 1 in common solvents, only the biological activities of complex 2 were investigated. The antitumor activity of complex 2 was evaluated against a panel of human cancer cell lines, including U2OS, A549, HCT116, MDA-MB-231 and HepG2. Complex 2 exhibited comparable cytotoxic effect to cisplatin (CDDP) against the human colon carcinoma cells HCT116, and superior selectivity for inhibiting human hepatocarcinoma cells rather than normal liver cells. The cell cycle distribution analysis indicates that complex 2 inhibits human carcinoma cells by inducing the cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase, showing a similar mechanism of action to that of CDDP. The binding interaction of complex 2 with calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) has been explored by UV-vis absorption and circular dichroism (CD), demonstrating complex 2 has a moderate binding affinity for DNA through intercalation.

Tuning the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction promoted by [Mo2O2S2]-based molybdenum cycles in aqueous medium

We report the syntheses and characterizations, in the solid state and in solution, of three new cyclic polyoxothiomolybdates self-assembled around 2,5-dimethylterephthalate (DMT) and 2,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)terephthalate (DFMT) ligands, namely [Mo12DMT](2-), [Mo12DFMT](2-) and [Mo16DFMT](2-). A series of these two Mo12-compounds completed by the two Mo12-compounds obtained with 2,3,5,6-tetramethylterephthalate and trimesate ligands offer the opportunity to compare their electro-catalytic properties for reduction of protons into hydrogen. The ability of these compounds to promote the reduction of protons into hydrogen in aqueous medium is evidenced and the influence of the embedded ligand is highlighted, thus allowing proposal of a mechanism for the hydrogen evolution reaction catalyzed by these clusters.