Two Unprecedented Germanoniobate Frameworks Based on High-Nuclearity Peanut-Shaped {Ge12Nb38} Clusters

By variation of the amount of GeO2, two organic-inorganic hybrid germanoniobate frameworks with 6-connected pcu and 10-connected bct topologies were constructed from peanut-shaped {α-Ge12Nb38} and {β-Ge12Nb38} clusters, respectively. The {α-Ge12Nb38} and {β-Ge12Nb38} clusters contain the most Ge centers of germanoniobates reported so far. The compounds exhibit proton conduction properties with a conductivity of 3.04 × 10-4 S·cm-3 for 1 and 1.62 × 10-4 S·cm-3 for 2 at 85 °C and 98% RH. The water vapor adsorption capacities for 1 and 2 are 5.86 and 4.40 mmol·g-1, respectively.

Complexed Semiconductor Cores Activate Hexaniobate Ligands as Nucleophilic Sites for Solar‐Light Reduction of CO 2 by Water

Although pure and functionalized solid-state polyniobates such as layered perovskites and niobate nanosheets are photocatalysts for renewable-energy processes, analogous reactions by molecular polyoxoniobate cluster-anions are nearly absent from the literature. We now report that under simulated solar light, hexaniobate cluster-anion encapsulated 30-Ni^II -ion "fragments" of surface-protonated cubic-phase-like NiO cores activate the hexaniobate ligands towards CO₂ reduction by water. Photoexcitation of the NiO cores promotes charge-transfer reduction of Nb^V to Nb^IV , increasing electron density at bridging oxo atoms of Nb-μ-O-Nb linkages that bind and convert CO₂ to CO. Photogenerated NiO "holes" simultaneously oxidize water to dioxygen. The findings point to molecular complexation of suitable semiconductor "fragments" as a general method for utilizing electron-dense polyoxoniobate anions as nucleophilic photocatalysts for solar-light driven activation and reduction of small molecules.

Synthesis, structures and stability of three V-substituted polyoxoniobate clusters based on [TeNb9O33]17- units

Three structurally intriguing polyoxoniobates (PONbs) based on the trivacant B-type α-Keggin ion {TeNb9O33}, H4K(CN3H6)2{[Cu4(2,2'-bipy)4(H2O)2][TeNb9V2O37]}·29H2O (1, 2,2'-bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine), H0.5K5Na2.5{[Cu(en)H2O]3[TeNb9V3O39]}·10H2O (2, en = ethylenediamine), and K3Na5{[Cu(1,3-dap)H2O]3[TeNb9V3O39]}·11H2O (3, 1,3-dap = 1,3-diaminopropane), are assembled by the conventional aqueous solution methods using a series of N-containing organic ligands. In 1, each of the two {VO4} units is attached to two coplanar NbO6 octahedra on the {Nb3O13} cluster of the {TeNb9O33} unit. Differently, three {VO4} units in 2 and 3 are linked to two edge-sharing NbO6 octahedra, respectively. Compounds 1-3 represent the first oxo NbTeV clusters and also the first vanadoniobates based on the trivacant Keggin PONb units. All three compounds were characterised by single-crystal X-ray structural analysis, TGA and IR, ESI-MS and 51V NMR spectroscopy. Furthermore, the magnetic properties of compounds 1 and 2 were also studied.

Regulating the catalytic activity of multi-Ru-bridged polyoxometalates based on differential active site environments with six-coordinate geometry and five-coordinate geometry transitions

Five-coordinate geometry around ruthenium with highly exposed active sites has attracted intensive scientific interest due to its superior properties and extensive applications. Herein, we report a series of structurally controllable multi-Ru-bridged polyoxometalates, K5NaH10[{Ru4(H2O)n}(WO2)4(AsW9O33)4]·mH2O {1, 1-dehyd-373K, 1-dehyd-473K, 1-dehyd-573K; n = 4, m = 36; n = 4, m = 6; n = 4, m = 0; n = 0, m = 0} fabricated through a feasible assembly strategy using arsenotungstate {2, KNa12H17Cl2(As4W40O140)·29H2O} as a structure-directing unit. Systematic characterization methods identified that the six-coordinate geometry can successfully transform into five-coordinate geometry about active sites (Ru) by removing aqua ligands under high reaction temperatures. All the multi-Ru-bridged polyoxometalates demonstrated strong stability and catalytic effectiveness in the transformation of 1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethanol to 4'-chloroacetophenone under very mild conditions. 1-dehyd-573K, specifically, achieves the best catalytic effectiveness with a turnover frequency (TOF) = 25 100·h-1 owing to its unique five-coordinate geometry on the Ru sites. To our knowledge, 1-dehyd-573K outperforms other POM-based catalysts in the oxidative catalysis of 1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethanol. The heterogeneous polyoxometalates were also proven to be strongly reusable, with their structural integrities well maintained after multiple-cycle catalytic reactions.

A 1D Helical Chain Heterpolyniobate Templated by AsO33

A novel polyoxoniobate cluster directed by AsO₃^3-, {[Cu(phen)]₅[Nb₆O₁₉][As₂Nb₆O₂₂]}₂ (1a), has been successfully synthesized by a "two-pot" strategy, namely, the conventional aqueous solution and diffusional methods. It incorporates two {[Cu(phen)]₂Nb₆O₁₉} and two {[Cu(phen)]₃As₂Nb₆O₂₂} subunits. Surprisingly, by changing the reaction conditions, one of the subunits {[Cu(phen)]₂Nb₆O₁₉} was isolated as a guanidinium salt. These architectures were structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, TGA, IR, elemental analysis and PXRD, etc. Furthermore, the behavior of 1 in aqueous solution was measured by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and the magnetic property in the low temperature range indicates the presence of antiferromagnetic interactions.

Self-Assembly of a Phosphate-Centered Polyoxo-Titanium Cluster: Discovery of the Heteroatom Keggin Family

Over the past 200 years, the most famous and important heteroatom Keggin architecture in polyoxometalates has only been synthesized with Mo, W, V, or Nb. Now, the self-assembly of two phosphate (PO₄ ^3- )-centered polyoxo-titanium clusters (PTCs) is presented, PTi₁₆ and PTi₁₂ , which display classic heteroatom Keggin and its trivacant structures, respectively. Because Ti^IV has lower oxidate state and larger ionic radius than Mo^VI , W^VI , V^V , and Nb^V , additional Ti^IV centres in these PTCs are used to stabilize the resultant heteroatom Keggin structures, as demonstrated by the cooresponding theoretical calculation results. These photoactive PTCs can be utilized as efficient photocatalysts for highly selective CO₂ -to-HCOOH conversion. This new discovery indicates that the classic heteroatom Keggin family can be assembled with Ti, thus opening a research avenue for the development of PTC chemistry.

A novel peroxopolyoxoniobate incorporating mixed heteroatoms: [P2Se2Nb6(O2)6O22]8-

A novel hetero selenato-phosphato-peroxopolyoxoniobate with the formula Cs₄H₄[P₂Se₂Nb₆(O₂)₆O₂₂]·10H₂O has been successfully isolated in an acidified aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution. The synthesized cluster represents the first example of a selenium-containing polyoxoniobate. Furthermore, the ESI-MS spectra show that the polyoxoanion structural unit [P₂Se₂Nb₆(O₂)₆O₂₂]^8- remains intact in aqueous solution.

Soluble Hetero-Polyoxovanadates and Their Solution Chemistry Analyzed by Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Polyoxometalates (POMs) are an intriguing class of compounds due to their tremendous structural variety and the wide spectrum of resulting properties, which make them interesting for applications in fields such as catalysis, material science or nanotechnology. Their ability to form large supramolecular architectures by self-assembly offers an entry to complex, functional systems. After an introduction into the structure and synthesis of POMs of the early transition metals, recently discovered water-soluble antimonato polyoxovanadates (Sb-POVs) and the investigation of their chemical reactivity are discussed. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) is presented as an analytical technique suitable to investigate the structure of complex POM assemblies in solution and to probe the underlying reactivity and formation mechanisms. This Minireview highlights the first studies on the soluble Sb-POVs and how the knowledge of their reactivity obtained by ESI-MS has fostered the syntheses of numerous novel Sb-POV compounds.

Toward Exploiting the Behavior of Niobium-Containing Mesoporous Silicates vs. Polyoxometalates in Catalysis

Classification of polyoxometalates (POMs) is based on their chemical composition, basically represented by two general formulae: a) [MmOy]p- b) [XxMmOy]q-, where M is the main transition metal, O is the oxygen atom and X can be a non-metal atom such as Si. Additionally, in the most cases, the structure of the polyoxometalates is derived from a combination of octahedral units MO6 with a central metal atom M and the oxygen atoms placed at their corners. In such octahedra, oxygen atoms allow the condensation between two octahedral units, while one oxygen atom (or max. two atoms) makes double bond with the central metal atom and is not shared with other metal atoms within the complex (terminal oxygens). On the other hand, niobium-containing mesoporous silicates contain mainly MO4 tetrahedra and reveal superior activity in heterogeneous catalysis. Thus, the proper coordination of niobium is crucial for the catalytic activity and will be deeply discussed. The similarity in the catalytic behavior of niobium-polyoxometalates and heterogeneous niobium single-site catalysts in selective oxidations will be demonstrated.

Synthesis, structure, and luminescent properties of a family of lanthanide-functionalized peroxoniobiophosphates

Eight new lanthanide derivatives containing 6-peroxoniobio-4-phosphate building block, [LnIII(H2O)6]2[H4(NbO2)6P4O24]·nH2O [Ln = Eu (1), Gd (2), Tb (3), Dy (4), Ho (5), Er (6), Tm (7), Yb (8), 1-5, 7, 8 n = 12; 6 n = 9], have been successfully obtained using an in-situ strategy and fully characterized in the solid state by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, IR spectra, TG-MS, PXRD. Structural analyses indicate that these isostructural polyanions 1-8 consist of one [P4(NbO2)6O24]10- (P 4 (NbO 2 ) 6 ) clusters and two pendant Ln3+ cations. In these compounds, P 4 (NbO 2 ) 6 clusters are connected by lanthanide cations to form extended two-dimensional architectures. The approach takes advantage of the ability of in-situ formed P 4 (NbO 2 ) 6 cluster to build frameworks by using it as ligands to lanthanide ions. The photoluminescence (PL) and lifetime decay behaviors of 1, 3 and 4 in solid state have been performed at room temperature. The PL emission of 1, 3 and 4 is mainly derived from the characteristic 5D0→7FJ (J = 1, 2, 3, 4), 5D4→7FJ (J = 6, 5, 4, 3) and 4F9/2→6H J (J = 15/2, 13/2, 11/2) transitions of the EuIII, TbIII and DyIII cations, respectively.

A Polyoxoniobate-Polyoxovanadate Double-Anion Catalyst for Simultaneous Oxidative and Hydrolytic Decontamination of Chemical Warfare Agent Simulants

A novel double-anion complex, H₁₃ [(CH₃ )₄ N]₁₂ [PNb₁₂ O₄₀ (V^V O)₂ ⋅(V^IV₄ O₁₂ )₂ ]⋅22 H₂ O (1), based on bicapped polyoxoniobate and tetranuclear polyoxovanadate was synthesized, characterized by routine techniques and used in the catalytic decontamination of chemical warfare agents. Under mild conditions, 1 catalyzes both hydrolysis of the nerve agent simulant, diethyl cyanophosphonate (DECP) and selective oxidation of the sulfur mustard simulant, 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES). In the oxidative decontamination system 100 % CEES was transformed selectively to nontoxic 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfoxide and vinyl ethyl sulfoxide using nearly stoichiometric 3 % aqueous H₂ O₂ with a turnover frequency (TOF) of 16 000 h^-1 . Importantly, the catalytic activity is maintained even after ten recycles and CEES is completely decontaminated in 3 mins without formation of the highly toxic sulfone by-product. A three-step oxidative mechanism is proposed.

Synthesis, structure, and photocatalytic hydrogen evolution of a trimeric Nb/W addendum cluster

We present the second trimeric Nb/W addendum cluster Cs₁₂[(SiW₉Nb₃O₃₈)₃WO₃(OH)₃]·33H₂O with its photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity.

Unique solubility of polyoxoniobate salts in methanol: coordination to cations and POM methylation

In methanolic solutions of A₄[{LM′}₂M₆O₁₉] ({LM′} = {Cp*Rh}²⁺, {Cp*Ir}²⁺, {(C₆H₆)Ru}²⁺; M = Nb, Ta; A = Na, K) formation of methoxo complexes [{LM′}₂M₆O_19−n(OMe)n] (n = 1–3) and coordination of CH₃OH to A⁺ take place.