Syntheses, Crystal Structure, Electrocatalytic, and Magnetic Properties of the Monolanthanide-Containing Germanotungstates [Ln(H2O) n GeW11O39]5- (Ln = Dy, Er, n = 4,3)

Two monolanthanide-containing polyanions based on monolacunary Keggin germanotungstates [Ln(H2O) n GeW11O39]5- (Ln = Dy, Er, n = 4,3) have been synthesized in simple one-pot synthetic procedure and compositionally characterized in solid state by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and elemental analysis. Electronic absorption and emission spectra of the title compounds in solution were also studied. The [DyIII(H2O)4GeW11O39]5- Keggin POM exhibits a slow relaxation of magnetization. The cyclic voltammetry measurements and mass spectrometry were carried out to check the stability of the compounds in solution. Both polyanions prove efficient in the electrocatalytic reduction of nitrite. To our knowledge, this observation establishes the first example of electrocatalysis of nitrite reduction by all inorganic monolanthanide-containing germanotungstates family.

Synthesis, structure and electrochemical characterization of an isopolytungstate (W4O16) held by MnII anchors within a superlacunary crown heteropolyanion {P8W48}

The first example of an isopolyanion (W₄O₁₆) held by redox-active Mn^II anchors within an archetypal superlacunary heteropolyanion {P₈W₄₈}.

Synthesis, Structure, and Magnetic Electrochemical Properties of a Family of Tungstoarsenates Containing Just CoII Centers or Both CoII and FeIII Centers

The three polyoxotungstates [(NaOH₂)₂Co^II₂(As₂W₁₅O₅₆)₂]^18- (1), [(NaOH₂)(Co^IIOH₂)Co^II₂(As₂W₁₅O₅₆)₂]^17- (2), and [(Co^IIOH₂)₂Co^II₂(As₂W₁₅O₅₆)₂]^16- (3) have been prepared in aqueous solution upon mixing cobalt(II) salts with the ligand [As₂W₁₅O₅₆]^12-. The reaction of 1 or 2 with the Fe³⁺ ion leads invariably to the same species [(Fe^IIIOH₂)(Co^IIOH₂)Co^II₂(As₂W₁₅O₅₆)₂]^15- (4) possessing three cobalt atoms and a single iron atom. However, if the Fe-containing homologue of compound 1, that is, the polyoxotungstate [(NaOH₂)₂Fe^III₂(As₂W₁₅O₅₆)₂]^16- (5), is employed instead to react with the Co²⁺ ion, the species [(Co^IIOH₂)₂Fe^III₂(As₂W₁₅O₅₆)₂]^14- (6) is obtained, having two cobalt atoms and two iron atoms. The compounds 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 are described for the first time and have been characterized by several physicochemical methods such as FTIR, UV-visible, ATG, and elemental analysis. Structural analysis by single-crystal X-ray diffraction has been carried out with compounds 2 (monoclinic space group P2₁/c, a = 17.0622(5) Å, b = 15.0828(4) Å, c = 32.0872(8) Å, β = 91.170(1)°, and Z = 2) and 3 (triclinic space group P1̅, a = 13.6137(7) Å, b = 13.8836(8) Å, c = 22.9276(6) Å, α = 89.906(3)°, β = 78.356(2)°, γ = 61.451(2)°, and Z = 1). Electrochemical studies undertaken with all the above-mentioned compounds and some of their homologues shed light on the influence of the chemical composition on their electrocatalytic properties toward substrates such as the nitrite ion and dioxygen. Magnetic measurements evidence anisotropic ferromagnetic interactions between Co²⁺ ions and antiferromagnetic interactions between Fe³⁺ ions. The nature and the strength of the Co²⁺-Fe³⁺ interactions depend on the relative orientations of their 3d orbitals. The effective magnetic moment of the Co²⁺ ions varies with the temperature and with the distortion of the octahedral sites in which they are located.

CrIII-Substituted Heteropoly-16-Tungstates [CrIII2(B-β-XIVW8O31)2]14- (X = Si, Ge): Magnetic, Biological, and Electrochemical Studies

The dichromium(III)-containing heteropoly-16-tungstates [Cr^III₂(B-β-Si^IVW₈O₃₁)₂]^14- (1) and [Cr^III₂(B-β-Ge^IVW₈O₃₁)₂]^14- (2) were prepared via a one-pot reaction of the composing elements in aqueous, basic medium. Polyanions 1 and 2 represent the first examples of Cr^III-containing heteropolytungstates comprising the octatungstate unit {XW₈O₃₁} (X = Si, Ge). Magnetic studies demonstrated that, in the solid state, the two polyanions exhibit a weak antiferromagnetic interaction between the two Cr^III centers with J = -3.5 ± 0.5 cm^-1, with no long-range ordering down to 1.8 K. The ground-state spin of polyanions 1 and 2 was thus deduced to be 0, but the detection of a complex set of EPR signals implies that there are thermally accessible excited states containing unpaired spins resulting from the two S = ³/₂ Cr^III ions. A comprehensive electrochemistry study on 1 and 2 in solution was performed, and biological tests showed that both polyanions display significant antidiabetic and anticancer activities.

Heptanickel(ii) double-cubane core in wells-dawson heteropolytungstate, [Ni7(OH)6(H2O)6(P2W15O56)2](16-)

The hepta-Ni(2+)-containing 30-tungsto-4-phosphate(v) [Ni7(OH)6(H2O)6(P2W15O56)2](16-) (1) has been synthesized in aqueous, slightly basic medium under conventional reaction conditions, and charactarized via different physical methods. Single-crystal XRD showed that 1 consists of a corner-fused double-cubane {Ni7(OH)6(H2O)6}(8+) fragment sandwiched by two trilacunary [P2W15O56](12-) units. Polyanion 1 is solution-stable as shown by (31)P NMR. Ferromagnetic coupling interaction between the 7 paramagnetic centers of the double-cubane core in 1 with a S = 7 ground state was demonstrated. Electrochemical studies were also performed on 1.

Electrochemical behavior of α1/α2-[Fe(H2O)P2W17O61](7-) isomers in solution: experimental and DFT studies

The unusual redox behavior displayed by the two isomers of the Wells-Dawson phosphotungstate anion [Fe(H(2)O)P(2)W(17)O(61)](7-) is presented. The electrochemical measurements have been performed in aqueous media at different pH values from 0.5 up to 8.0. The cyclic voltammetry has also been carried out in organic media to get additional experimental data to establish the effect of the protonation on the redox properties of both isomers. At high pH values (pH ≥ 6) or in an organic medium, the reduction of the Fe center is easier in the case of the alpha-1 isomer, whereas for the alpha-2 isomer such reduction takes place at more negative potentials, as expected. In contrast, at lower pH values (pH ≤ 5), an inversion of this trend is observed, and the reduction of the Fe center becomes easier for the alpha-2 isomer compared to the alpha-1. We were able to highlight the influence of the pH and the pK(a) of the electrolyte on POM-based redox potentials given the pK(a) of the latter. A complementary theoretical study has also been performed to explain the experimental data obtained. In this sense, the results obtained from the DFT study are in good agreement with the experimental data mentioned above and have provided additional information for the electrochemical behavior of both isomers according to their different molecular orbital energies. We have also shown the influence of protonation state of the iron derivative on the relative reduction potentials of both isomers.