Chongchao Zhao

A nickel containing polyoxometalate water oxidation catalyst

A new pentanickel silicotungstate complex, K(10)H(2)[Ni(5)(OH)(6)(OH(2))(3)(Si(2)W(18)O(66))]·34H(2)O (KH-), has been synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography and several other methods. Dynamic light scattering, kinetics and other experiments confirm that in the presence of [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) (the photosensitizer for light-driven water oxidations) and [Ru(bpy)(3)](3+) (the oxidant in the dark water oxidations) exists in an equilibrium between solution (soluble) and a [Ru(bpy)(3)](n+)- complex (minimally soluble) form. This new pentanickel polyoxometalate catalyzes efficient water oxidation in both the dark and on irradiation with 455 nm LED light with 1.0 mM [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) photosensitizer and 5.0 mM Na(2)S(2)O(8), sacrificial electron acceptor. Four lines of evidence indicate that in this solution [symbol:see text] Ru(bpy)(3)](n+)- complex equilibrium remains molecular and does not decompose to nickel hydroxide particles.

Synthesis and characterization of a metal-to-polyoxometalate charge transfer molecular chromophore.

[P(4)W(35)O(124){Re(CO)(3)}(2)](16-) (1), a Wells-Dawson [α(2)-P(2)W(17)O(61)](10-) polyoxometalate (POM)-supported [Re(CO)(3)](+) complex containing covalent W(VI)-O-Re(I) bonds has been synthesized and characterized by several methods, including X-ray crystallography. This complex shows a high visible absorptivity (ε(470 nm) = 4000 M(-1) cm(-1) in water) due to the formation of a Re(I)-to-POM charge transfer (MPCT) band. The complex was investigated by computational modeling and transient absorption measurements in the visible and mid-IR regions. Optical excitation of the MPCT transition results in instantaneous (<50 fs) electron transfer from the Re(I) center to the POM ligand.

Synthesis, Structures, and Photochemistry of Tricarbonyl Metal Polyoxoanion Complexes, [X2W20O70{M(CO)3}2]12– (X = Sb, Bi and M = Re, Mn)

A new series of complexes containing two electron donating groups, {M(CO)(3)}(+) ions, M = Re or Mn, on one polytungstate electron acceptor group have been prepared and characterized. These complexes containing two electron donating groups, {M(CO)(3)}(+) ions, M = Re or Mn, on one polytungstate electron acceptor group have been prepared and characterized. These two-component polyoxometalate (POM) compounds have been made by reaction of solvated {M(CO)(3)}(+) ions (M = Re or Mn) with [X(2)W(22)O(74)(OH)(2)](12-) (X = Sb or Bi) POM multidentate ligands in aqueous solution. These syntheses reveal that the fac-{WO(OH)(2)}(2+) groups in the terminal positions of these two POM ligands are easily replaced by the topologically equivalent units fac-{M(CO)(3)}(+). Four compounds, [X(2)W(20)O(70){M(CO)(3)}(2)](12-) (1a: X = Sb, M = Re; 1b: X = Bi, M = Re; 2a: X = Sb, M = Mn; 2b: X = Bi, M = Mn) have been isolated and characterized of X-ray crystallography, spectroscopic, and computational methods. The charge transfer dynamics, investigated by femtosecond transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy of 1a and 1b combined with the density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that both complexes exhibit metal-to-polyoxometalate charge-transfer (MPCT) from the Re centers to the POM ligands, while MPCT from the Mn centers to the POM ligands in 2a and 2b leads to decomposition of starting compounds. The studies suggest a general synthetic route to a potentially very large class of POM-based hybrid compounds.

Ligand-directed assembly of cyanide-bridged bimetallic MnIIFeIII coordination polymers based on the pentacyanoferrite(III) building blocks

Rarely investigated pentacyanoferrate(III) building blocks, [Fe(CN)5(L)]2− (L = 1-methylimdazole (1–CH3im), imidazole (imH)), have been used to prepare cyanide-bridged bimetallic polymeric Mn(II)–Fe(III) complexes {[Mn(bpy)(H2O)2Fe(CN)5(1–CH3im)]·H2O}n (1), {[Mn(bpy)Fe(CN)5(imH)]·H2O}n (2) and {[Mn(CH3OH)2Fe(CN)5(imH)]}n (3) (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine). Complexes 1 and 2 were obtained via the reactions of Mn(bpy)2Cl2·EtOH with [Fe(CN)5(L)]2− (L = 1–CH3im and imH, respectively), and complex 3via the reaction between MnCl2·2H2O and [Fe(CN)5(imH)]2− in absolute methanol. Complex 1 is a one-dimensional alternate Mn(II)–Fe(III) chain, while complexes 2 and 3 are two-dimensional comprised of Fe2Mn2 squares. Complexes 2 and 3 show interesting intra- or interlayer π–π interactions between imidazole and pyridine rings of bpy. Partial loss of the bpy ligand and the π–π contacts has a direct effect on the molecular structures of complexes 1–3. Antiferromagnetic interaction between high-spin Mn(II), and low-spin Fe(III) has been observed in complexes 1–3, and the layered complexes 2 and 3 display long-range magnetic ordering at the critical temperature of 4.4 K (TN) for 2 and 5.0 K (Tc) for 3. A best-fit to the magnetic susceptibility of the 1D complex 1 has given the magnetic coupling constant of JMnFe = −6.16(9) cm−1 based on an antiferromagnetic chain model of alternate SFe = 1/2 and SMn = 5/2 spins.

All-Inorganic Networks and Tetramer Based on Tin(II)-Containing Polyoxometalates: Tuning Structural and Spectral Properties with Lone-Pairs

Two MOF-like but all-inorganic polyoxometalate-based networks, [Na7X2W18Sn9Cl5O68·(H2O)m]n (1, X = Si, m = 35; 2, X = Ge, m = 41), and the molecular tetramer Na6[{Na(μ-OH2)(OH2)2}6{Sn6(B-SbW9O33)2}2]·50H2O (3) have been prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction and spectroscopic methods. All three compounds exhibit unique structural features, and networks 1 and 2 incorporate the highest nuclearity of Sn(II)-containing POMs to date. Tetramer 3 comprises bridging Sn(II) ions with [B-SbW9O33](9-) units and exhibits two highly unusual features, a long-range Sb···Sb interaction and an intramolecular charge-transfer transition involving donation of the lone-pair electron density on both Sb(III) and Sn(II) to the POM. The electronic structure and excited-state dynamics have been studied by transient spectroscopy, spectroelectrochemistry, DFT calculations, and resonance Raman spectroscopy. The synergistic effect of two types of stereoactive lone-pairs on Sb(III) and Sn(II) is critical for the charge-transfer absorption feature in the visible.

Di- and Tri-Cobalt Silicotungstates: Synthesis, Characterization, and Stability Studies

Di- and tricobalt silicotungstate complexes, K(5)Na(4)H(4)[{Na(3)(μ-OH(2))(2)Co(2)(μ-OH)(4)} (Si(2)W(18)O(66))]·37H(2)O (1) and K(6)Na(3)[Na(H(2)O){Co(H(2)O)(3)}(2){Co(H(2)O)(2)}(Si(2)W(18)O(66))]·22H(2)O (2), have been synthesized through reaction of cobalt chloride and [A-α-SiW(9)O(34)](10-) in acidic buffer solution. They have been characterized by X-ray crystallography, elemental analysis, cyclic voltammetry, infrared, and UV-vis spectroscopy. In 1, two cobalt atoms as well as three sodium atoms are incorporated in the central pocket of the [Si(2)W(18)O(66)](16-) polyanion. In 2, one cobalt atom and one sodium atom are incorporated in the pocket of [Si(2)W(18)O(66)](16-); two other cobalt atoms in this complex protrude outside the pocket and connect with WO(6) units of other [Si(2)W(18)O(66)](16-) polyanions to form a one-dimensional polymeric structure. The crucial parameters in the synthesis of these two compounds are discussed, and their stability in different buffer solutions is studied. The decomposition of 1 or 2 in heated potassium acetate buffer (pH 4.8, 1 M) yields K(11)[{Co(2)(H(2)O)(8)}K(Si(2)W(18)O(66))]·17H(2)O (3) based on spectroscopic studies and an X-ray crystal structure.