RESUMEN
Within the transition metal oxide systems, vanadium presents a unique chemistry due to its capacity to form a great number of mixed-valence oxo clusters which often have the peculiarity to incorporate species that function, for size, shape, and charge, as templates. Prismatic, lustrous dark brown crystals of [(n-C(4)H(9))NH(3)](9)[V(19)O(49)].7H(2)O are obtained by reacting (n-C(4)H(9)NH(3))VO(3), VOSO(4), and (n-C(4)H(9))NH(2) in H(2)O. The X-ray crystal structure shows an ellipsoidal metal-oxo cluster formed by 15 VO(5) and 3 VO(4) polyhedra surrounding an almost regular VO(4) tetrahedron located on the 3-fold axis of a trigonal cell of dimensions a = 19.113(5) Å and c = 13.743(5) Å with space group P&thremacr; and Z = 2. Exponentially weighted bond valence sum calculations, manganometric titration of the V(IV) centers, and magnetic measurements are consistent with the presence of three localized and three delocalized electrons. Variable-temperature solid-state susceptibility studies indicate antiferromagnetic coupling between V(IV) centers. Cyclic voltammetry in acetonitrile shows a irreversible reduction at -1.24 V and a reversible oxidation at +0.17 V (vs Ag/AgCl). The title compound converts quantitatively to the metal oxide K(2)V(3)O(8) with an extended layered structure as soon as a potassium salt is added to a neutral aqueous solution of the polyoxoanion.
