Preparation of α1- and α2-isomers of mono-Ru-substituted Dawson-type phosphotungstates with an aqua ligand and comparison of their redox potentials, catalytic activities, and thermal stabilities with Keggin-type derivatives.

Both the α1- and the α2-isomers of mono-ruthenium (Ru)-substituted Dawson-type phosphotungstates with terminal aqua ligands, [α1-P2W17O61Ru(III)(H2O)](7-) (α1-RuH2O) and [α2-P2W17O61Ru(III)(H2O)](7-) (α2-RuH2O), were prepared in pure form by cleavage of the Ru-S bond of the corresponding DMSO derivatives, [α1-P2W17O61Ru(DMSO)](8-) (α1-RuDMSO) and [α2-P2W17O61Ru(DMSO)](8-) (α2-RuDMSO), respectively. Redox studies indicated that α1-RuH2O and α2-RuH2O show proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET), and the Ru(III)(H2O) species was reversibly reduced to Ru(II)(H2O) species and oxidized to Ru(IV)([double bond, length as m-dash]O) species and further to Ru(V)([double bond, length as m-dash]O) species in aqueous solution depending on the pH. Their redox potentials and thermal stabilities were compared with those of the corresponding α-Keggin-type derivatives ([α-XW11O39Ru(H2O)](n-); X = Si(4+) (n = 5), Ge(4+) (n = 5), or P(5+) (n = 4)). The basic electronic and redox features of Ru(L)-substituted Keggin- and Dawson-type heteropolytungstates (with L = H2O or O(2-)) were analyzed by means of density functional calculations. Similar to the corresponding α-Keggin-type derivatives, both α1-RuH2O and α2-RuH2O show catalytic activity for water oxidation.

Preparation and redox studies of α1- and α2-isomers of mono-Ru-substituted Dawson-type phosphotungstates with a DMSO ligand: [α1/α2-P2W17O61Ru(II)(DMSO)](8-).

Both α1- and α2-isomers of mono-Ru-substituted Dawson-type heteropolytungstates with a DMSO ligand, [α1-P2W17O61Ru(II)(DMSO)](8-) and [α2-P2W17O61Ru(II)(DMSO)](8-), are prepared from the α2-isomer of a monolacunary derivative, [α2-P2W17O61](10-). Reaction of [α2-P2W17O61](10-) with Ru(DMSO)4Cl2 under hydrothermal conditions produces [α2-P2W17O61Ru(II)(DMSO)](8-) as a main product together with [α1-P2W17O61Ru(II)(DMSO)](8-), [PW11O39Ru(II)(DMSO)](5-), and [P2W18O62](6-) as byproducts. By addition of KCl to the reaction mixture, K8[α2-P2W17O61Ru(II)(DMSO)] is isolated in a moderate yield. On the other hand, reaction of [α2-P2W17O61](10-) with Ru2(benzene)2Cl4 under hydrothermal conditions produces an isomeric mixture of [P2W17O61Ru(III)(H2O)](7-) (α1-isomer/α2-isomer ratio: ca. 8/1) as a main product together with [PW11O39Ru(III)(H2O)](4-) and [P2W18O62](6-) as byproducts. By addition of acetone to the reaction mixture, K7[P2W17O61Ru(III)(H2O)] is isolated in a good yield. Reaction of [P2W17O61Ru(III)(H2O)](7-) with DMSO produces [α1-P2W17O61Ru(III)(DMSO)](7-) as a main product and [α2-P2W17O61Ru(III)(DMSO)](7-) as a minor product. By addition of KCl and acetone, the α1-isomer K8[α1-P2W17O61Ru(II)(DMSO)] is isolated in a good yield. Both compounds are fully analyzed by CV, NMR ((1)H, (13)C, (31)P, and (183)W), IR, UV-vis, elemental analysis, mass spectroscopy, and single-crystal structure analysis. Assuming that isomerization does not occur during the reaction of [P2W17O61Ru(III)(H2O)](7-) with DMSO, the isolated [P2W17O61Ru(III)(H2O)](7-) contains the α1-isomer as a main compound with the α2-isomer as a minor compound. Unusual transformation of the α2-isomer of [P2W17O61](10-) to the α1-isomer occurs. Redox behaviors of [α1-P2W17O61Ru(II)(DMSO)](8-) and [α2-P2W17O61Ru(II)(DMSO)](8-) are compared together with Ru(DMSO)-substituted α-Keggin-type heteropolytungstates, [α-XW11O39Ru(DMSO)](n-) (X = Si, Ge, and P).