A new route to prepare the mixed oxo-ethylidyne-capped trinuclear tungsten(IV) cluster and the crystal structure of H2Na3[W3O(CCH3)-(O2CCH3)6(H2O)3][H2W12O40]·13.5H2O

The synthesis and the structural characterization of the title compound H₂Na₃W₃O(CCH₃)-(O₂CCH₃)₆(H₂O)₃]H₂W₁₂O₄₀]·13.5H₂O are described. It is known that the mixed oxo-ethylidynecapped tritungsten cluster can be obtained by Zn dust reduction of Na₂WO₄·2H₂O in acetic anhydride. The title compound has been characterized by X-ray diffraction, UV/VIS and ¹H NMR spectra. The tungsten atoms in the cluster cation and anion are in the oxidation states of W(IV) and W(VI) respectively. The crystal is rhombohedral with the space group R32, a = 17.058 (3)Å, c = 49.665 (9)Å, γ=120°, V=12516(9)ų, Z=6, final R = 0.037 for 2071 reflections with I ≥3σ (I). Both the cluster cation and anion have a C₃ symmetry. The important interatomic distances in angstroms for the cluster cation are: W—W, 2.730(2); W—μ₃?O, 2.00; W—O (carboxy1), 2.12; W—O_t 2.18 (2).