dl-Serine Covalently Ornamented and Ln3+-Incorporated Arsenotungstates with Fast-Responsive Photochromic and Photoinduced Luminescent Switchable Behaviors

Three isostructural dl-serine covalently functionalized and multinuclear lanthanide (Ln³⁺)-embedded arsenotungstates, K₂[{As₄W₄₄O₁₃₇(OH)₁₈(H₂O)₂(dl-Ser)₂}{Ln₂(H₂O)₄(dl-Ser)}₂{Ln(H₂O)₇}₂]·70H₂O (Ln = Sm (1), Eu (2), and Gd (3); dl-Ser = C₃H₇NO₃), were prepared, where the centrosymmetric [{As₄W₄₄O₁₃₇(OH)₁₈(H₂O)₂(dl-Ser)₂}{Ln₂(H₂O)₄(dl-Ser)}₂]^8- polyanion consists of two {As₂W₁₉O₅₉(OH)₈(H₂O)}^6- fragments, integrated with a two-dl-serine-ornamented [W₆O₂₃(OH)₂(dl-Ser)₂{Ln₂(H₂O)₄}₂]^8- segment. In addition, the photochromic transformation of solid-state compounds 1-3 was observed from colorless to blue after a UV illumination of 4 min, and the decay process lasted as long as ∼20 h in the dark. The coloration kinetic half-life (t_1/2) values of compounds 1, 2, and 3 were calculated to be 0.597, 0.920, and 0.723 min, respectively. Furthermore, the luminescent properties and energy migration from arsenotungstates and organic chromophores to Sm³⁺ and Eu³⁺ ions in 1 and 2 have been intensively investigated. Further analysis manifests that 1 possesses an effective luminescent switchable behavior, triggered by its fast-responsive photochromism effect.

Synthesis, Structure, and Catalytic Activities of Two Multi-Rh-Decorated Polyoxometalates

Two multi-Rh-incorporated polyoxometalates [NH₂(CH₃)₂]₁₀[Na₄(H₂O)₈]H₃[As₄W₄₂O₁₄₂(OH)₄(CH₃COO)₂Rh₃(H₂O)₄]·13H₂O·4[NH(CH₃)₂] (1) and [K₄Na(H₂O)₆]KH₁₀[As₄W₄₀O₁₄₀Rh₄(H₂O)₄]·34H₂O (2) have been synthesized in acetate buffer solution. Polyanion 1a is built up atop of an acetate-modified rectangular framework [As₄W₄₂O₁₄₂(OH)₄(CH₃COO)₂]^26-, while polyanion 2a contains a pure inorganic cryptand [As₄W₄₀O₁₄₀]^28-. All Rh atoms of these two compounds share the same hexa-coordinate distorted-octahedral geometry and are embedded into their cavities through As-Rh bonding with a bond length around 2.304(4)-2.436(5) Å. Besides, they not only represent structural novelty but also demonstrate controllable proton conduction properties. Catalysts 1 and 2 can catalyze cycloaddition of epoxides with CO₂ in a solvent-free system in conjunction with 1-ethyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bromide.

H-shaped oxalate-bridging lanthanoid-incorporated arsenotungstates

A series of oxalate-bridging di-Ln³⁺-incorporated H-shaped polyoxometalates were synthesized and their stability in solution was evidenced by Raman spectroscopy.

Pyrazine dicarboxylate-bridged arsenotungstate: synthesis, characterization, and catalytic activities in epoxidation of olefins and oxidation of alcohols

The catalytic properties and polyanionic structure of pyrazine dicarboxylate-bridged arsenotungstate are reported.

Synergistic Effect between Different Coordination Geometries of Lanthanides and Various Coordination Modes of 2-Picolinic Acid Ligands Tuning Three Types of Rare 3d-4f Heterometallic Tungstoantimonates

Three types of N-heterocyclic aromatic acid decorated 3d-4f heterometallic Keggin-type tungstoantimonates: Na₄[Ln(H₂O)₅]₂[Fe₄(H₂O)₂(pic)₄(B-β-SbW₉O₃₃)₂]·26H₂O [Ln³⁺ = La³⁺ (1), Pr³⁺ (2), Nd³⁺ (3), Sm³⁺ (4), Eu³⁺ (5)], Na₆H₄[Fe₂W₄O₉(H₂O)₂(Hpic)₄ (B-β-SbW₉O₃₃)₂][Ln(H₂O)₈]₂[Fe₄W₂O₇(H₂O)₄(pic)₂(Hpic)₂(B-β-SbW₉O₃₃)₂]·38H₂O [Ln³⁺ = Gd³⁺ (6), Dy³⁺ (7)], and Na₂H₂{[Ln(H₂O)₆]₂[Fe₄(H₂O)₂(Hpic)₂(pic)₂(B-β-SbW₉O₃₃)₂]}₂·44H₂O [Ln³⁺ = Ho³⁺ (8), Er³⁺ (9), Hpic = 2-picolinic acid] have been prepared. 1-5 comprise a quadripic-inserted Krebs-type [Fe₄(H₂O)₂(pic)₄(B-β-SbW₉O₃₃)₂]^10- moiety supported by two [Ln(H₂O)₅]³⁺ groups on both sides where it can be considered that four pic ligands replace eight aqua ligands located on the original Krebs-type [Fe₄(H₂O)₁₀(B-β-SbW₉O₃₃)₂]^10- fragment to form the [Fe₄(H₂O)₂(pic)₄(B-β-SbW₉O₃₃)₂]^10- moiety. Remarkably, the quadripic-inserted subunits are further concatenated through the coordination role of the pic ligands to create a 3-D heterometallic framework. In contrast, the molecular units of 6-7 contain two kinds of non-Krebs-type quadripic-inserted [Fe₂W₄O₉(H₂O)₂(Hpic)₄(B-β-SbW₉O₃₃)₂]^6- and {[Ln(H₂O)₈]₂[Fe₄W₂O₇(H₂O)₄(pic)₂(Hpic)₂(B-β-SbW₉O₃₃)₂]}^4- moieties. The molecular units of 8-9 contain two identical quadripic-inserted Krebs-type {[Ln(H₂O)₆]₂[Fe₄(H₂O)₂(Hpic)₂(pic)₂(B-β-SbW₉O₃₃)₂]}^2- moieties, and both display a 1-D heterometallic double chain. For all we know, 1-9 stand for the first 3d-4f heterometallic tungstoantimonate hybrids functionalized by pic ligands. Particularly, the solid-state NIR photoluminescence (PL) spectrum in the range of 800-1450 nm of 3 and the solid-state visible PL spectra in the range of 500-750 nm of 4, 5, 7, and 8 at room temperature display the featured fluorescence emission bands stemming from Ln³⁺ cations. In the PL emission procedures of 5 and 7, energy transfer from [B-β-SbW₉O₃₃]^9- fragments and pic ligands to Ln³⁺ ions has been observed. Additionally, the correlated color temperatures of 4, 5, 7, and 8 are indexed to 2731, 2020, 4557, and 1685 K, respectively.

A helical chain-like organic–inorganic hybrid arsenotungstate with color-tunable photoluminescence

A 1-D helical chain-like organic–inorganic hybrid arsenotungstate Na₄H₈[{Pr(H₂O)₂}₂{As₂W₁₉O₆₈}{WO₂(mal)}₂]·24H₂O (1) exhibits excitation-wavelength-dependent emission behaviors with a reversible green–orange-yellow luminescence.

Rare Earth Polyoxometalates

Longstanding and important applications make use of the chemical and physical properties of both rare earth metals and polyoxometalates of early transition metals. The catalytic, optical, and magnetic features of rare earth metal ions are well-known, as are the reversible multielectron redox and photoredox capabilities of polyoxomolybdates and polyoxotungstates. The combination of rare earth ions and polyoxometalates in discrete molecules and coordination polymers is of interest for the unique combination of chemical and physical properties that can arise. This Account surveys our efforts to synthesize and investigate compounds with rare earth ions and polyoxometalates (RE-POMs), sometimes with carboxylate-based organic coligands. Our general synthetic approach is "bottom-up", which affords well-defined nanoscale molecules, typically in crystalline form and amenable to single-crystal X-ray diffraction for structure determination. Our particular focus is on elucidation of the physical properties conferred by the different structural components with a view to ultimately being able to tune these properties chemically. For this purpose, we employ a variety of spectroscopic, magnetochemical, electrochemical, and scattering techniques in concert with theoretical modeling and computation. Studies of RE-POM single-molecule magnets (SMMs) have utilized magnetic susceptibility, inelastic neutron scattering, and ab initio calculations. These investigations have allowed characterization of the crystal field splitting of the rare earth(III) ions that is responsible for the SMM properties of slow magnetic relaxation and magnetization quantum tunneling. Such SMMs are promising for applications in quantum computing and molecular spintronics. Photophysical measurements of a family of hybrid RE-POMs with organic ligands have afforded insights into sensitization of Tb(III) and Eu(III) emission through both organic and polyoxometalate chromophores in the same molecule. Detailed variable-temperature studies have revealed the temperature dependence of the POM-based sensitization, which is relevant for potential applications in phosphor thermometry. Novel RE-POM coordination polymers demonstrate the promise of higher-dimensional materials for catalytic and sensing applications that can make use of either or both rare earth and polyoxometalate capabilities. Finally, structural, electrochemical, and density functional theory studies on a family of modular RE-POMs that incorporate molybdotungstates with amino acid coligands have revealed how closed Mo-oxo loops that are reduced preferentially can act as electron reservoirs in mixed-metal molybdotungstates. This has important implications for mixed-metal polyoxometalates in redox and photoredox catalysis. Notably, these hybrid RE-POMs are stable in solution and maintain the chirality induced by amino acid ligands. The RE-POMs surveyed in this Account provide a glimpse of possible structural features that are accessible with this family of compounds. The studies of the ensuing chemical and physical properties reveal the promise of RE-POMs for diverse and varied applications and lay an excellent foundation for the future development of this new class of functional materials.

Construction of polyoxometalates from dynamic lacunary polyoxotungstate building blocks and lanthanide linkers

New polyoxometalates have been constructed from the dynamic building block {B-α-Sb^IIIW₉O₃₃} and lanthanide (Ln) linkers via a stepwise synthetic strategy, exhibiting luminescent properties with their Tb- and Dy-derivatives.