A Novel Expansion Mode of Polyoxovanadate Clusters: Synthesis,Crystal Structure and Properties of {[Cu(H2O)(C5H14N2)2]2[V16O38(Cl)]}·4(C5H16N2)

The new polyoxovanadate (POV) compound {Cu(H₂O)(C₅H₁₄N₂)₂]₂V₁₆O₃₈(Cl)]} · 4(C₅H₁₆N₂) was synthesized under solvothermal conditions and crystallizes in the tetragonal space group I4₁/amd with a = 13.8679(6), c = 45.558(2) Å, V = 8761.7(7) ų. The central structural motif is a {V₁₆O₃₈(Cl)} cluster constructed by condensation of 16 square‐pyramidal VO₅ polyhedra. The cluster hosts a central Cl^– anion. According to valence bond sum calculations, chemical analysis and magnetic properties the cluster anion may be formulated as V₁₅^IVV^VO₃₈(Cl)]^12–, i.e., only one vanadium atom is not reduced. To the best of our knowledge this is the first reported {V₁₆O₃₈(X)} cluster in this V^IV:V^V ratio. The presence of the two different vanadium oxidation states is clearly seen in the IR spectrum. An unusual and hitherto never observed structural feature is the binding mode between the Cu(H₂O)(C₅H₁₄N₂)₂]²⁺ complexes and the V₁₅^IVV^VO₃₈(Cl)]^12– anion. The Cu²⁺ ion binds to a μ₂‐O atom of the cluster anion whereas in all other transition metal complex‐augmented POVs bonding between the transition metal cation and the anion occurs through terminal oxygen atoms of the POV. The magnetic properties are dominated by strong antiferromagnetic exchange interactions between the V⁴⁺ d¹ centers, whereas the Cu²⁺ d⁹ cations are magnetically decoupled from the cluster anion. Upon heating, the title compound decomposes in a complex fashion.