(Me2NH2)10[H2-Dodecatungstate] polymorphs: dodecatungstate cages embedded in a variable dimethylammonium cation + water of crystallization matrix

Two polymorphs and a solvatomorph of a new dimethylammonium polytungstate-decakis(dimethylammonium) dihydrogendodecatungstate, (Me₂NH₂)₁₀(W₁₂O₄₂)·nH₂O (n = 10 or 11)-have been synthesized. Their structures were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and solid-phase NMR methods. The shape of the dodecatungstate anions is essentially the same in all three structures, their interaction with the cations and water of crystallization, however, is remarkably variable, because the latter forms different hydrogen-bonded networks, and provides a highly versatile matrix. Accordingly, the N-H⋯O and C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds are positioned in each crystal lattice in a variety of environments, characteristic to the structure, which can be distinguished by solid-state ¹H-CRAMPS, ¹³C, ¹⁵N CP MAS and ¹H-¹³C heteronuclear correlation NMR. Thermogravimetry of the solvatomorphs also reflect the difference and multiformity of the environment of the water molecules in the different crystal lattices. The major factors behind the variability of the matrix are the ability of ammonium cations to form two hydrogen bonds and the rigidity of the polyoxometalate anion cage. The positions of the oxygen atoms in the latter are favourable for the formation of bifurcated and trifurcated cation-anion hydrogen bonds, some which are so durable that they persist after the crystals are dissolved in water, forming ion associates even in dilute solutions. The H atom involved in furcated hydrogen bonds cannot be exchanged by deuterium when the compound is dissolved in D₂O. An obvious consequence of the versatility of the matrix is the propensity of these compounds to form multiple polymorphs.

Coding the Assembly of Polyoxotungstates with a Programmable Reaction System

Chemical transformations are normally conducted in batch or flow mode, thereby allowing the chemistry to be temporally or spatially controlled, but these approaches are not normally combined dynamically. However, the investigation of the underlying chemistry masked by the self-assembly processes that often occur in one-pot reactions and exploitation of the potential of complex chemical systems requires control in both time and space. Additionally, maintaining the intermediate constituents of a self-assembled system “off equilibrium” and utilizing them dynamically at specific time intervals provide access to building blocks that cannot coexist under one-pot conditions and ultimately to the formation of new clusters. Herein, we implement the concept of a programmable networked reaction system, allowing us to connect discrete “one-pot” reactions that produce the building block{W₁₁O₃₈} ≡ {W₁₁} under different conditions and control, in real time, the assembly of a series of polyoxometalate clusters {W₁₂O₄₂} ≡ {W₁₂}, {W₂₂O₇₄} ≡ {W₂₂} 1a, {W₃₄O₁₁₆} ≡ {W₃₄} 2a, and {W₃₆O₁₂₀} ≡ {W₃₆} 3a, using pH and ultraviolet–visible monitoring. The programmable networked reaction system reveals that is possible to assemble a range of different clusters using {W₁₁}-based building blocks, demonstrating the relationship between the clusters within the family of iso-polyoxotungstates, with the final structural motif being entirely dependent on the building block libraries generated in each separate reaction space within the network. In total, this approach led to the isolation of five distinct inorganic clusters using a “fixed” set of reagents and using a fully automated sequence code, rather than five entirely different reaction protocols. As such, this approach allows us to discover, record, and implement complex one-pot reaction syntheses in a more general way, increasing the yield and reproducibility and potentially giving access to nonspecialists.

Here we describe a programmable networked reaction system connecting reactors that produce the building block{W₁₁O₃₈} ≡ {W₁₁} under different conditions and control the assembly of a series of polyoxometalate clusters {W₁₂O₄₂} ≡ {W₁₂}, {W₂₂O₇₄} ≡ {W₂₂} 1a, {W₃₄O₁₁₆} ≡ {W₃₄} 2a, and {W₃₆O₁₂₀} ≡ {W₃₆} 3a, using pH and ultraviolet−visible monitoring. This approach led to the isolation of five clusters using a fully automated sequence code, rather than five entirely different reaction protocols.

What can electrospray mass spectrometry of paratungstates in an equilibrating mixture tell us?

[W₇O₂₄]⁶⁻, the main species in an aqueous solution of Na₂WO₄at pH ≤ 7 proved by NMR and Raman spectroscopy, fails to be detected in ESI-MS due to its ESI-induced dissociation into Lindqvist [W₆O₁₉]²⁻.

pH-controlled and sulfite anion-directed assembly of a family of cerium(III)-containing polyoxotungstates clusters

A versatile one-pot strategy was employed to synthesize five cerium(III)-containing polyoxotungstate nanoclusters through pH-controlled and sulfite anion-directed assembly: [C2H8N]3Na7[Ce2(H2O)6W22O72(OH)4]·20H2O (1) at pH 5.0; [C2H8N]8Na16[Ce4(H2O)12W44O144(OH)12]·23H2O (2) at pH 4.5; [C2H8N]2Na4Ce2[Ce2(H2O)10W28O92(OH)2]·27H2O (3) at pH 2.8-3.3; [C2H8N]2Na7[{α-SW7O28}{Ce2(H2O)6}(W3O6){α-SW9O32}{α-SW9O31(OH)}]·18H2O (4) at pH 2.5; [C2H8N]2Na18[Ce2(H2O)9W36O110(OH)12]2·30H2O (5) at pH 1.5. These compounds were characterized by single-crystal X-ray structure analysis, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Moreover, their electrochemical properties were investigated. Single-crystal X-ray structure analysis revealed that 1 and 2 were di- and tetra-cerium(III)-bridged polyoxotungstates, constructed from two different types of lacunary {W11} units. 3 composed of the well-known cerium(III)-stabilized {W28} unit and organic amine-sodium-cerium cations, was isolated in the pH range 2.8-3.3. In this reaction system, the SO3(2-) anion acted as a heteroanion template at a lower pH 2.5. 4 was isolated by the combination of cerium(III) centers and SO3(2-) heteroanion template, which is the first lanthanide-containing polyoxotungstates with sulfur heteroatoms, and the 4f metal cerium(III) centers in 4 both have eight-coordinated modes and the SO3(2-) heteroanion templates display μ7 and μ9 coordination modes. At a much lower pH 1.5, the polyanion of 5 was obtained, two triangular-shaped {W36} subunits were bridged by the cerium(III) ions, resulting in the largest lanthanide-containing iso-polyoxotungstates known to date.