Synthesis of the first Zn6-hexagon sandwich-tungstoantimonate via rearrangement of a non-lacunary Krebs-type polyoxotungstate

Synthesis and characterization of the Anderson-Evans tungstoantimonate [Na5(H2O)18{(HOCH2)2CHNH3}2][SbW6O24]

A novel tungstoantimonate, [Na5(H2O)18{(HOCH2)2CHNH3}2][SbVWVI6O24] (SbW6), was synthesized from an aqueous solution and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, which revealed C2/c symmetry. The structure contains two serinol [(HOCH2)2CHNH3]+ and five Na+ cations, which are octahedrally surrounded by 18 water molecules, and one [SbVWVI6O24]7- anion. The serinol molecules also play a critical role in the synthesis by acting as a mild buffering agent. Each of the WVI and SbV ions is six-coordinated and displays a distorted octahedral motif. A three-dimensional supramolecular framework is formed via hydrogen-bonding interactions between the tungstoantimonates and cations. Powder X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis and IR spectroscopy were performed on SbW6 to prove the purity, to identify the water content and to characterize the vibrational modes of the crystallized phase.

Defect {(WVIO7)WVI4} and Full {(WVIO7)WVI5} Pentagonal Units as Synthons for the Generation of Nanosized Main Group V Heteropolyoxotungstates

We report on the synthesis and characterization of three new nanosized main group V heteropolyoxotungstates K_xNa_y[H₂(XW^VI₉O₃₃)(W^VI₅O₁₂)(X₂W^VI₂₉O₁₀₃)]·nH₂O {X₃W₄₃} (x = 11, y = 16, and n = 115.5 for X = Sb^III; x = 20, y = 7, and n = 68 for X = Bi^III) and K₈Na₁₅[H₁₆(Co^II(H₂O)₂)_0.9(Co^II(H₂O)₃)₂(W^VI_3.1O₁₄)(Sb^IIIW^VI₉O₃₃)(Sb^III₂W^VI₃₀O₁₀₆)(H₂O)]·53H₂O {Co₃Sb₃W₄₂}. On the basis of the key parameters for the one-pot synthesis strategy of {Bi₃W₄₃}, a rational step-by-step approach was developed using the known Krebs-type polyoxotungstate (POT) K₁₂[Sb^V₂W^VI₂₂O₇₄(OH)₂]·27H₂O {Sb₂W₂₂} as a nonlacunary precursor leading to the synthesis and characterization of {Sb₃W₄₃} and {Co₃Sb₃W₄₂}. Solid-state characterization of the three new representatives {Bi₃W₄₃}, {Sb₃W₄₃}, and {Co₃Sb₃W₄₂} by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and elemental analysis, along with characterization in solution by UV/vis spectroscopy shows that {Bi₃W₄₃}, {Sb₃W₄₃}, and {Co₃Sb₃W₄₂} represent the first main group V heteropolyoxotungstates encapsulating a defect {(W^VIO₇)W^VI₄} ({X₃W₄₃}, X = Bi^III and Sb^III) or full {(W^VIO₇)W^VI₅} ({Co₃Sb₃W₄₂}) pentagonal unit. With 43 tungsten metal centers, {X₃W₄₃} (X = Bi^III and Sb^III) are the largest unsubstituted tungstoantimonate– and bismuthate clusters reported to date. By using time-dependent UV/vis spectroscopy, the isostructural representatives {Sb₃W₄₃} and {Bi₃W₄₃} were subjected to a comprehensive study on their catalytic properties as homogeneous electron-transfer catalysts for the reduction of K₃[Fe^III(CN)₆] as a model substrate revealing up to 5.8 times higher substrate conversions in the first 240 min (35% for {Sb₃W₄₃}, 29% for {Bi₃W₄₃}) as compared to the uncatalyzed reaction (<6% without catalyst after 240 min) under otherwise identical conditions.

We report on the synthesis and characterization of three new tungsten-based defect {(W^VIO₇)W^VI₄}K_xNa_y[H₂(XW^VI₉O₃₃)(W^VI₅O₁₂)(X₂W^VI₂₉O₁₀₃)]·nH₂O {X₃W₄₃} (x = 11, y = 16, and n = 115.5 for X = Sb^III; x = 20, y = 7, and n = 68 for Bi^III) or full pentagonal {(W^VIO₇)W^VI₅} unit K₈Na₁₅[H₁₆(Co^II(H₂O)₂)_0.9(Co^II(H₂O)₃)₂(W^VI_3.1O₁₄)(Sb^IIIW^VI₉O₃₃)(Sb^III₂W^VI₃₀O₁₀₆)(H₂O)]·53H₂O {Co₃Sb₃W₄₂} encapsulating main group V representatives. With 43 W centers, {Sb₃W₄₃} and {Bi₃W₄₃} exhibit the highest nuclearity among unsubstituted tungstoantimonates and bismuthates reported to date. The catalytic properties of {Sb₃W₄₃} and {Bi₃W₄₃} as homogeneous electron-transfer catalysts for the reduction of K₃[Fe^III(CN)₆] to K₄[Fe^II(CN)₆] was investigated.

Cation-Directed Synthetic Strategy Using 4f Tungstoantimonates as Nonlacunary Precursors for the Generation of 3d-4f Clusters

The first synthetic pathway using a series of four nonlacunary 4f-heterometal-substituted polyoxotungstate clusters Na₂₁[(Ln(H₂O)(OH)₂(CH₃COO))₃(WO₄)(SbW₉O₃₃)₃]·nH₂O (NaLnSbW₉; Ln = Tb^III, Dy^III, Ho^III, Er^III, Y^III) as precursors for the directed preparation of nine new 3d–4f heterometallic tungstoantimonates K₅Na₁₂H₃[TM(H₂O)Ln₃(H₂O)₅(W₃O₁₁)(SbW₉O₃₃)₃]·nH₂O (KTMLnSbW₉; TM = Co^II, Ni^II; Ln = Tb^III, Dy^III, Ho^III, Er^III, Y^III) has been developed. Systematic studies revealed an increased K content in the aqueous acidic reaction mixture to be the key step in the cation-directed preparation of 3d–4f compounds; among those, the Co-containing members represent the first examples of KCoLnSbW₉ (Ln = Tb^III, Dy^III, Ho^III, Er^III, Y^III) heterometallic tungstoantimonates exhibiting the SbW₉ building block. All 13 compounds have been characterized thoroughly in the solid state by powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD), revealing a cyclic trimeric polyoxometalate architecture with three SbW₉ units encapsulating a planar triangle of Ln^III ions in the case of NaLnSbW₉ and a heterometallic core of one TM^II and three Ln^III for KTMLnSbW₉ (TM = Co^II, Ni^II; Ln = Tb^III, Dy^III, Ho^III, Er^III, Y^III). The results obtained by XRD are supplemented by complementary characterization methods in the solid state such as IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and elemental analysis as well as in solution by UV–vis spectroscopy. Detailed magnetic studies on the representative compounds KTMDySbW₉ (TM = Co^II, Ni^II) and KCoYSbW₉ of the series revealed field-induced slow magnetic relaxation.

The first step-by-step synthetic protocol using preformed 4f tungstoantimonate clusters as nonlacunary precursors for the controlled preparation and thorough characterization of a family of nine new 3d−4f heterometallic polyoxometalates [TM(H₂O)Ln₃(H₂O)₅(W₃O₁₁)(SbW₉O₃₃)₃]^20- (KTMLnSbW₉) (TM = Co^II, Ni^II; Ln = Tb^III, Dy^III, Ho^III, Er^III, Y^III) is reported. Magnetic studies on the Dy^III-containing representatives [TM(H₂O)Dy₃(H₂O)₅(W₃O₁₁)(SbW₉O₃₃)₃]²⁰⁻ (TM = Co^II, Ni^II) show single-molecule-magnet behavior.

Two Ni/Co-substituted sandwich-type germanomolybdates based on an unprecedented trivacant polyanion [α-GeMo10O36]8

Two Ni/Co-substituted sandwich-type germanomolybdates, {[M₃(NH₂-trz)₆(H₂O)₆][M₄(H₂O)₂(HGeMo₁₀O₃₆)₂]}·nH₂O (M = Ni²⁺ (1) and Co²⁺ (2), n = 10 (1) or 11 (2), NH₂-trz = 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole), have been obtained under hydrothermal conditions. 1 and 2 represent the first trivacant Keggin germanomolybdates involving unprecedented [α-GeMo₁₀O₃₆]^8- fragments and {M₃O₄} quasi-cubane building units. Both of them exhibit electrocatalytic behaviours for H₂O₂ reduction and photocatalytic properties for CO₂ conversion.

Pathways towards true catalysts: computational modelling and structural transformations of Zn-polyoxotungstates

Current catalysis undergoes a paradigm shift from molecular and heterogeneous realms towards new dynamic catalyst concepts. This calls for innovative strategies to understand the essential catalytic motifs and true catalysts emerging from oxidative transformation processes. Polyoxometalate (POM) clusters offer an inexhaustible reservoir for new noble metal-free catalysts and excellent model systems whose structure-activity relationships and mechanisms remain to be explored. Here, we first introduce a new {Zn_nNa_6-n(B-α-SbW₉O₃₃)₂} (n = 3-6) catalyst family with remarkable tuning options of the Zn-based core structure and high activity in H₂O₂-assisted catalytic alcohol oxidation as a representative reaction. Next, high level solution-based computational modelling of the intermediates and transition states was carried out for [Zn₆Cl₆(SbW₉O₃₃)₂]^12- as a representative well-defined case. The results indicate a radical-based oxidation process with the involvement of tungsten and adjacent zinc metal centers. The {Zn_nNa_6-n(B-α-SbW₉O₃₃)₂} series indeed efficiently catalyses alcohol oxidation via peroxotungstate intermediates, in agreement with strong spectroscopic support and other experimental evidence for the radical mechanism. Finally, the high performance of [Zn₆Cl₆(SbW₉O₃₃)₂]^12- was traced back to its transformation into a highly active and robust disordered Zn/W-POM catalyst. The atomic short-range structure of this resting pre-catalyst was elucidated by RMC modelling of the experimental W-L₃ and Zn-K edge EXAFS spectra and supported with further analytical methods. We demonstrate that computational identification of the reactive sites combined with the analytical tracking of their dynamic transformations provides essential input to expedite cluster-based molecular catalyst design.

Synthesis, characterization, and POM-protein interactions of a Fe-substituted Krebs-type Sandwich-tungstoantimonate

ABSTRACT

The novel iron-substituted Krebs-type polyoxotungstate (C12N4H11)4Na2H5[(Fe(H2O)3)2((FeO2)0.5(WO2)0.5)2(β-SbW9O33)2] (Fe-1) has been synthesized using ortho-phenylenediamine (opda) as a precursor for the in situ formation of the counter cation 2,3-diaminophenazinium (C12N4H11)+ (2,3-DAP). Fe-1 has been thoroughly characterized in the solid state by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SXRD), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), IR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis as well as in solution by UV-Vis spectroscopy. The crystal structure of Fe-1 reveals π-π-interactions between the aromatic systems of the unconventional 2,3-DAP counter cation. POM-protein interaction studies using SDS-PAGE revealed a non-proteolytic behavior of Fe-1 towards Human Serum Albumin (HSA) as a model protein.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT