Organoarsonates Enable Single-Site Condensation of Hexalacunary {P2W12} Polyoxotungstates.

A systematic study of the condensation reactions of arylarsonic-functionalized [α-P2W12O48]14- units in acidic aqueous media identified that the specific presence of an amino group in the ortho position of the phenyl rings induces a dimerization process that allowed isolation of discrete dimeric polyanions [(o-H2N-C6H4-AsO3)4P4W24O85]14- (1) with an unprecedented polyoxometalate skeleton characterized by two seminal {P2W12} groups joined via a single W-O-W bridge. At the same time, addition of divalent transition metal ions (MnII, CoII, and NiII) in the reaction mixture directed a condensation process on a completely different pathway resulting in one-dimensional (1D) coordination polymers based on V-shaped [{M(H2O)4}P4W24O92(C6H6AsNO)2]14- polyanions (M = MnII (2), CoII (3), and NiII (4)). All polyanions were isolated as hydrated mixed potassium/dimethylammonium salts and thoroughly characterized in the solid state. 31P NMR studies showed that the discrete cluster 1 is comparatively stable in 1 M LiCl aqueous solution and thus represents a potential precursor for subsequent reactions.

Controlled Hydrolysis of Phosphate Esters: A Route to Calixarene-Supported Rare-Earth Clusters.

Phosphate ester bonds are widely present in nature (e. g. DNA/RNA) and can be extremely stable against hydrolysis without the help of catalysts. Previously, we showed how the combination of phosphoryl and calix[4]arene moieties in the same organic framework (LPO ) allows isolation of single lanthanide (Ln) metal ions as [LnIII (LPO )2 ](O3 SCF3 )3 . Here we report how by controlling the reaction conditions a new hydrolyzed phosphoryl-calix[4]arene ligand (H3 LHPO ) is formed as a result of LnIII -mediated P-OEt bond cleavage in three out of the eight possible sites in LPO . The chelating nature of H3 LHPO traps the LnIII species in the form of [LnIII (LHPO )((EtO)2 P(O)OH)]2 dimers (Ln=La, Dy, Tb, Gd), where the Dy derivative shows slow magnetization relaxation. The strategy presented herein could be extended to access a broader library of hydrolyzed platforms (Hx LHPO ; x=1-8) that may represent mimics of nuclease enzymes.

Trigonal Prismatic Coordination of Discrete Rare Earth Ions, Enforced by the Polyoxotungstate [P4 W27 O99 (H2 O)]16.

A family of solution-stable polyanions [Na⊂{LnIII (H2 O)}{WVI O(H2 O)}PV 4 WVI 26 O98 ]12- (Ln=Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu and Y) represent the first examples of polyoxometalates comprising a single lanthanide(III) or yttrium(III) ion in a rare trigonal prismatic O6 environment. Their synthesis exploits the reactivity of the organophosphonate-functionalized precursor [P4 W24 O92 (C6 H5 PV O)2 ]16- with heterometal ions and yields hydrated potassium or mixed lithium/potassium salts of composition Kx Lny H12-x-y [Na⊂{Ln(H2 O)}{WO(H2 O)}P4 W26 O98 ]⋅nH2 O⋅mLiCl (x=8.5-11; y=0-2; n=24-34; m=0-1.5). The Dy, Ho, Er and Yb derivatives are characterized by slow magnetization relaxation.

Polyoxotungstate Archetype {P4 W27 } and its 3d Derivatives.

The propensity of the new, phenylphosphonate-stabilized polyoxotungstate [(C6 H5 PV O)2 P4 W24 O92 ]16- to act as a precursor for new 3d metal-functionalized polyanions has been investigated. Reactions with MnII and CuII induce the formation of the previously unknown polyoxotungstate archetype {P4 W27 }, isolated as salts of the polyanions [Na⊂{MnII (H2 O)}{WO(H2 O)}P4 W26 O98 ]13- (1) and [K⊂{CuII (H2 O)}{W(OH)(H2 O)}P4 W27 O99 ]14- (2), which were characterized in the solid state (single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental and TG analyses, IR spectroscopy, SQUID magnetometry) and in aqueous solution (UV/Vis spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry).

Expansion of Zirconium Oxide Clusters by 3d/4f Ions.

Two series of charge-neutral coordination clusters featuring quasi-isostructural metal oxide cores, isolated as [Zr6Fe2Ln2O8(ib)14(bda)2(NO3)2]·xMeCN (Ln = La (1), Ce (2), Pr (3), and Nd (4); ib- = isobutyrate; H2bda = N-butyldiethanolamine) and [Zr6Fe2Ln2O8(ib)14(mda)2(NO3)2]·xMeCN (Ln = La (5), Ce (6), Pr (7), and Nd (8); H2mda = N-methyldiethanolamine), were obtained via one-pot reactions of [Fe3O(ib)6(H2O)3]NO3 as a critical precursor, Ln(NO3)3·6H2O (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, and Nd), the respective aminoalcohol, and [Zr6O4(OH)4(ib)12(H2O)]·3Hib in an acetonitrile solution. The coordination clusters in 1-8 feature {Zr6O8} cores that are structurally expanded by two 4f (Ln3+) and two 3d (Fe3+) metal ions, each individually coordinated to one of the eight oxide centers of {Zr6O8}, producing a metal skeleton where the 3d/4f positions cap four of the triangular faces of the central Zr6 octahedron. The coordination clusters differ in the chosen aminoalcohol coligands, N-butyldiethanolamine or N-methyldiethanolamine, which lead to a different isobutyrate coordination pattern in the two series, while the {Fe2Ln2Zr6O8} core structure remains virtually unaffected. All eight coordination clusters are obtained in moderate to good yields of 29-66% after only several days. Complexes 1-8 are stable against air and moisture; they are also surprisingly thermally stable up to 280 °C in air and in nitrogen atmosphere, and they represent the first reported examples of 3d/4f-functionalized zirconium oxide clusters.

Insertion of VIV Ions into the Polyoxotungstate Archetype {As4W40}.

A new polyoxometalate compound consisting of the 39-tungsto-4-arsenate(III) unit with four incorporated VIV ions, isolated as (NH4)22[(VIVO)2(VIVO(H2O))(AsIIIWVI9O33)2(AsIIIWVI8.5VIV0.5(OH)O32)2(WVIO2)4]·48H2O (NH4-As4W39(V4)), was synthesized and fully characterized. SQUID magnetometry shows three weakly coupled VIV centers with an antiferromagnetic exchange interaction and one isolated VIV ion as a spin-1/2 Curie paramagnet. UV-vis spectroscopy indicates that the As4W39(V4) structure remains intact in aqueous solution for at least 24 h. To enable the deposition of As4W39(V4) from solution on gold surfaces, its trihexyltetradecylphosphonium salt, THTDP-As4W39(V4), was prepared. The IR spectra of both congeners reveal the structural identity of As4W39(V4) independent of the countercations. The X-ray absorption near-edge structure data confirm the presence of VIV centers in a distorted square-pyramidal coordination geometry in NH4-As4W39(V4) and THTDP-As4W39(V4). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the latter, deposited on Au(111), shows that the 4 V and 35 W centers preserve their IV+ and VI+ oxidation states, while the remaining 4 W ions are reduced to IV+.

Sequential Isomerization of a Macrocyclic Polyoxometalate Archetype.

Controlled isomerization of individual {α-P2W12O48} polyoxotungstate building blocks under the constricted conditions of the macrocyclic [P8W48O184]40- archetype ({P8W48}) is linked to site-specific CuII coordination. The derivatives [αγαγ-P8W48O184{Cu(H2O)}2]36- (1), [γγγγ-P8W48O184{Cu(H2O)0.5}4]32- (2), and [αγγγ-P8W48O184{Cu(H2O)}3]34- (3) feature the {αγαγ-P8W48} and the hitherto unknown {γγγγ-P8W48} and {αγγγ-P8W48} isomers based on {α-P2W12} and/or CuII-stabilized {γ-P2W12} units and form from the reactions of the classical {P8W48} (={αααα-P8W48}) and CuCl2 in sodium acetate medium (pH 5.2). All products were thoroughly characterized in both the solid state and aqueous solutions, including electrocatalysis assessments.

Host-Guest-Induced Environment Tuning of 3d Ions in a Polyoxopalladate Matrix.

A series of unprecedented supramolecular associates of phenylarsonate-capped {MII PdII 12 O8 }-type (M=Co, Ni and Zn) polyoxopalladates with α-cyclodextrins (α-CD) was obtained and characterized in the solid state (single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD), FT-IR spectroscopy, elemental and thermogravimetric (TGA) analyses), in aqueous solution (1 H and 13 C NMR) and in the gas phase (ESI-MS). The non-covalent host-guest interactions between the organopolyoxoanions and α-CD rings alter the O8 coordination environment of a 3d transition metal ion (MII ) situated at the center of a cuboid polyoxododecapalladate shell. This synthetically controlled "chemical pressure" effectively induces axial distortion of the otherwise cubic polyoxopalladate environment between two trans-positioned α-CD moieties. Its effect on the magnetic properties and the electronic structure of the CoII derivative was assessed in a combined SQUID magnetometry, EPR, X-ray magnetic circular/linear dichroism (XMCD/XMLD), and X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy study.

Element-Selective Molecular Charge Transport Characteristics of Binuclear Copper(II)-Lanthanide(III) Complexes.

A series of isostructural dinuclear 3d-4f complexes, isolated as [CuLn(L·SMe)2(OOCMe)2(NO3)]· xMeOH (Ln = Gd 1, Tb 2, Dy 3, and Y 4; x = 0.75-1) and comprising one acetate and two thioether-Schiff base (L·SMe-) bridging ligands based on 4-(methylthio)aniline and 2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde (HL·SMe = C15H15NO2S), was synthesized and fully characterized. The magnetic properties of the charge-neutral {CuLn} complexes are dominated by ferromagnetic CuII-LnIII exchange interactions. Large-area electron transport studies reveal that the average conductivity of robust, self-assembled {CuLn} monolayers on a gold substrate is significantly lower than that of common alkanethiolates. Theoretical calculations of transmission spectra of individual complexes 1 and 4 embedded between two metallic electrodes show that the molecular current-voltage ( I- V) characteristics are strongly influenced by electron transport through the Cu centers and thus fully independent of the lanthanide ion, in excellent agreement with the experimental I- V data for 1-4. The ß-polarized transmission indicated by calculations of 1 and 4 points out their potential as spin filters. In addition, the reactivity of the title compound 1 with CuII in a square-pyramidal coordination environment toward methanolate and azide was examined, resulting in the formation of a linear trinuclear complex, [Cu2Na(L·SMe)4]NO3·3MeOH (5), characterized by antiferromagnetic exchange interactions between the two copper ions.

Probing Frontier Orbital Energies of {Co9(P2W15)3} Polyoxometalate Clusters at Molecule-Metal and Molecule-Water Interfaces.

Functionalization of polyoxotungstates with organoarsonate coligands enabling surface decoration was explored for the triangular cluster architectures of the composition [CoII9(H2O)6(OH)3(p-RC6H4AsVO3)2(α-PV2WVI15O56)3]25- ({Co9(P2W15)3}, R = H or NH2), isolated as Na25[Co9(OH)3(H2O)6(C6H5AsO3)2(P2W15O56)3]·86H2O (Na-1; triclinic, P1̅, a = 25.8088(3) Å, b = 25.8336(3) Å, c = 27.1598(3) Å, α = 78.1282(11)°, ß = 61.7276(14)°, γ = 60.6220(14)°, V = 13888.9(3) Å3, Z = 2) and Na25[Co9(OH)3(H2O)6(H2NC6H4AsO3)2(P2W15O56)3]·86H2O (Na-2; triclinic, P1̅, a = 14.2262(2) Å, b = 24.8597(4) Å, c = 37.9388(4) Å, α = 81.9672(10)°, ß = 87.8161(10)°, γ = 76.5409(12)°, V = 12920.6(3) Å3, Z = 2). The axially oriented para-aminophenyl groups in 2 facilitate the formation of self-assembled monolayers on gold surfaces and thus provide a viable molecular platform for charge transport studies of magnetically functionalized polyoxometalates. The title systems were isolated and characterized in the solid state, in aqueous solutions, and on metal surfaces. Using conducting tip atomic force microscopy, the energies of {Co9(P2W15)3} frontier molecular orbitals in the surface-bound state were found to directly correlate with cyclic voltammetry data in aqueous solution.

Organoarsonate Functionalization of Heteropolyoxotungstates.

Functionalization of the {P8W48} polyoxotungstate (POT) archetype with aromatic organoarsonates results in the first homometallic {P8W48} derivatives, with the general formula [(RAsVO)4PV8WVI48O184]32- [R = C6H5 (1) or p-(H2N)C6H4 (2)]. Short As-O bonds here induce unusual bending of the otherwise rigid {P8W48} macrocycle, breaking its D4h symmetry. The obtained species also represent the first lacunary POTs functionalized with organoarsonates and can potentially act as polyoxometalate precursors themselves. We elaborate solution stability in different aqueous media using 1H and 31P NMR spectroscopy and possible pathways for subsequent transformations in aqueous solutions of the functionalized polyanions. Recrystallization of the K+/Li+/dimethylammonium salt of 2 from 4 M LiCl solution yielded a further functionalized POT, [(H3NC6H4AsO)3P8W48O184Hx{WO2(H2O)2}0.4](30.2-x)- (3), revealing dissociation of the organoarsonate fragments in slightly acidic aqueous solutions followed by their rearrangement within the inner POT cavity.

Classical/Non-classical Polyoxometalate Hybrids.

Two polyanions [SeI V2 PdII4 WVI14 O56 H]11- and [SeI V4 PdII4 WVI28 O108 H12 ]12- are the first hybrid polyoxometalates in which classical (Group 5/6 metal based) and non-classical (late transition-metal based) polyoxometalate units are joined. Requiring no supporting groups, this co-condensation of polyoxotungstate and isopolyoxopalladate constituents also provides a logical link between POM-PdII coordination complexes and the young subclass of polyoxopalladates. Solid-state, solution, and gas-phase studies suggest interesting specific reactivities for these hybrids and point to several potential derivatives and functionalization strategies.

Platinum-Containing Polyoxometalates: syn- and anti-[Pt(II)2(α-PW11O39)2](10-) and Formation of the Metal-Metal-Bonded di-Pt(III) Derivatives.

The first examples of dimeric, di-Pt(II) -containing heteropolytungstates are reported. The two isomeric di-platinum(II)-containing 22-tungsto-2-phosphates [anti-Pt(II)2(α-PW11O39)2](10-) (1 a) and [syn-Pt(II)2(α-PW11O39)2](10-) (2 a) were synthesized in aqueous pH 3.5 medium using one-pot procedures. Polyanions 1 a and 2 a contain a core comprising two face-on PtO4 units, with a Pt⋅⋅⋅Pt distance of 2.9-3 Å. Both polyanions were investigated by single-crystal XRD, IR, TGA, UV/Vis, (31) P NMR, ESI-MS, CID-MS/MS, electrochemistry, and DFT. On the basis of DFT and electrochemistry, we demonstrated that the {Pt2(II)} moiety in 1 a and 2 a can undergo fully reversible two-electron oxidation to {Pt2(III)}, accompanied by formation of a single Pt-Pt bond. Hence we have discovered the novel subclass of Pt(III)-containing heteropolytungstates.

The mixed gold-palladium polyoxo-noble-metalate [NaAu(III)4Pd(II)8O8(AsO4)8](11-).

The first fully inorganic, discrete gold-palladium-oxo complex [NaAu(III) 4 Pd(II) 8 O8 (AsO4 )8 ](11-) has been synthesized in aqueous medium. The combination of single-crystal XRD, elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, and DFT calculations allowed establishing the structure and composition of the novel polyanion, and UV/Vis studies suggest that it is stable in neutral aqueous media.

Tetrapalladium-containing polyoxotungstate [Pd(II)4(α-P2W15O56)2]16-: a comparative study.

The novel tetrapalladium(II)-containing polyoxometalate [Pd(II)4(α-P2W15O56)2](16-) has been prepared in aqueous medium and characterized as its hydrated sodium salt Na16[Pd4(α-P2W15O56)2]·71H2O by single-crystal XRD, elemental analysis, IR, Raman, multinuclear NMR, and UV-vis spectroscopy. The complex exists in anti and syn conformations, which form in a 2:1 ratio, and possesses unique structural characteristics in comparison with known {M4(P2W15)2} species. (31)P and (183)W NMR spectroscopy are consistent with the long-term stability of the both isomers in aqueous solutions.

Cyclic tungstoselenites based on {Se2W12} units.

The reaction of Na2WO4 and SeO2 under moderately acidic conditions yielded a novel 39-tungsto-6-selenite, [(Se2W12O46(WO(H2O))3](24-) (1), isolated as Na24[H6Se6W39O144]·74H2O. The macrocyclic polyanion consists of three {Se2W12} fragments connected via three trans-{WO(H2O)}(4+) groups. The same {Se2W12} building block is present in the structure of [(Se2W12O46)2{Mn2Cl(H2O)2}{Mn(H2O)2}2(SeO)2](13-) (2), which was obtained from the same reagents in the presence of MnCl2. The compounds were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, (77)Se NMR, Fourier transform infrared, and Raman spectroscopy.

Coordination-triggered redox activity of early and late lanthanide calix[4]arene complexes.

The methylation of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene in the distal 1,3-phenolic sites provides H2L = {p-tert-butylcalix[4](OMe)2(OH)2arene}. This unit acts as a rigid coordinating ligand to early and late lanthanide metal ions, enabling the construction of two families of mononuclear compounds featuring (N(nBu)4)[LnIIIL(acac)2]·CH3CN (Ln = Pr (1), Nd (2), Ho (3), and Er (4)) and (N(nBu)4)2[LnIIIL{Mo5O13(OMe)4(NO)}]·CH2Cl2 (Ln = Nd (5) and Er (6)). The metal ions adopt distorted bicapped trigonal prismatic coordination environments, resulting in slow relaxation of the magnetization for 4. These compounds exhibit reversible redox waves at positive potentials, centered within the calix[4]arene ligand, representing a new type of calix[n]arene-based electrochemical activity induced by coordination to the metal centers.

Tris-decorated multi-iron polyoxotungstates.

Solution-stable tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane-functionalized FeIII-containing polyoxotungstates exhibit an unusual anchoring mode of triol moieties, with one -NH2 and one -CH2OH group remaining accessible for post-functionalization or chemisorption. The redox-active title compounds have been isolated under unusually mild reaction conditions and characterized in the solid state and in aqueous solutions.

3 d metal ions in highly unusual eight-coordination: the phosphate-capped dodecapalladate(II) nanocube.

Trapped in a noble cube: A novel family of noble metalates has been discovered in which a 3d metal ion M (M = Mn(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Cu(II), Zn(II)) is encapsulated by a 12 palladium-oxo cage {Pd(12)O(32)}, which is capped by eight phosphate groups. Such discrete nanocubes were further investigated by EPR spectroscopy, electrochemistry, and in homogeneous hydrogenation catalysis.

Bis[tetraruthenium(IV)]-containing polyoxometalates: [{Ru(IV)4O6(H2O)9}2Sb2W20O68(OH)2]4- and [{Ru(IV)4O6(H2O)9}2{Fe(H2O)2}2{ß-TeW9O33}2H]-.

The reaction of [Sb(2)W(22)O(74)(OH)(2)](12-) and [Fe(4)(H(2)O)(10)(ß-TeW(9)O(33))(2)](4-) with (NH(4))(2)[RuCl(6)] in aqueous solution resulted in the novel ruthenium(IV)-containing polyanions [{Ru(IV)(4)O(6)(H(2)O)(9)}(2)Sb(2)W(20)O(68)(OH)(2)](4-) and [{Ru(IV)(4)O(6)(H(2)O)(9)}(2){Fe(H(2)O)(2)}(2){ß-TeW(9)O(33)}(2)H](-), exhibiting two cationic, adamantane-like, tetraruthenium(IV) units {Ru(4)O(6)(H(2)O)(9)}(4+) bound to the respective polyanion in an external, highly accessible fashion.