Characterization of a new hexasodium diphosphopentamolybdate hydrate, Na6[P2Mo5O23]x7H2O, by 23Na MQMAS NMR spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction

A novel hexasodium disphosphopentamolybdate hydrate, Na6[P2Mo5O23]x7H2O, has been identified using X-ray powder diffraction, 1H, 23Na, and 31P magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR, and 23Na multiple-quantum (MQ) MAS NMR. Powder XRD reveals that the hydrate belongs to the triclinic spacegroup P1 with cell dimensions a = 10.090(3) A, b = 15.448(5) A, c = 8.460(4) A, alpha = 101.45(6) degrees, beta = 104.09(2) degrees, gamma = 90.71(5) degrees, and Z = 2. The number of water molecules of crystallization has been determined on the basis of a quantitative evaluation of the 1H MAS NMR spectrum, the crystallographic unit cell volume, and a hydrogen content analysis. The 23Na MQMAS NMR spectra of Na6[P2Mo5O23]x7H2O, obtained at three different magnetic fields, clearly resolve resonances from six different sodium sites and allow a determination of the second-order quadrupolar effect parameters and isotropic chemical shifts for the individual resonances. These data are used to determine the quadrupole coupling parameters (CQ and eta Q) from simulations of the complex line shapes of the central transitions, observed in 23Na MAS NMR spectra at the three magnetic fields. This analysis illustrates the advantages of combining MQMAS and MAS NMR at moderate and high magnetic fields for a precise determination of quadrupole coupling parameters and isotropic chemical shifts for multiple sodium sites in inorganic systems. 31P MAS NMR demonstrates the presence of two distinct P sites in the asymmetric unit of Na6[P2Mo5O23].7H2O while the 31P chemical shielding anisotropy parameters, determined for this hydrate and for Na6[P2Mo5O23]x13H2O, show that these two hydrates can easily be distinguished using 31P MAS NMR.     

An 17O NMR and quantum chemical study of monoclinic and orthorhombic polymorphs of triphenylphosphine oxide

Solid-state (17)O NMR spectroscopy is employed to characterize powdered samples of known monoclinic and orthorhombic modifications of (17)O-enriched triphenylphosphine oxide, Ph(3)PO. Precise data on the orientation-dependent (17)O electric field gradient (EFG) and chemical shift (CS) tensors are obtained for both polymorphs. While the (17)O nuclear quadrupolar coupling constants (C(Q)) are essentially identical for the two polymorphs (C(Q) = -4.59 +/- 0.01 MHz (orthorhombic); C(Q) = -4.57 +/- 0.01 MHz (monoclinic)), the spans (Omega) of the CS tensors are distinctly different (Omega = 135 +/- 3 ppm (orthorhombic); Omega = 155 +/- 5 ppm (monoclinic)). The oxygen CS tensor is discussed in terms of Ramsey's theory and the electronic structure of the phosphorus-oxygen bond. The NMR results favor the hemipolar sigma-bonded R(3)P(+)-O(-) end of the resonance structure continuum over the multiple bond representation. Indirect nuclear spin-spin (J) coupling between (31)P and (17)O is observed directly in (17)O magic-angle-spinning (MAS) NMR spectra as well as in (31)P MAS NMR spectra. Ab initio and density-functional theory calculations of the (17)O EFG, CS, and (1)J((31)P,(17)O) tensors have been performed with a variety of basis sets to complement the experimental data. This work describes an interesting spin system for which the CS, quadrupolar, J, and direct dipolar interactions all contribute significantly to the observed (17)O NMR spectra and demonstrates the wealth of information which is available from NMR studies of solid materials.     

Experimental and theoretical 17O NMR study of the influence of hydrogen-bonding on C=O and O-H oxygens in carboxylic solids

A systematic solid-state 17O NMR study of a series of carboxylic compounds, maleic acid, chloromaleic acid, KH maleate, KH chloromaleate, K2 chloromaleate, and LiH phthalate.MeOH, is reported. Magic-angle spinning (MAS), triple-quantum (3Q) MAS, and double angle rotation (DOR) 17O NMR spectra were recorded at high magnetic fields (14.1 and 18.8 T). 17O MAS NMR for metal-free carboxylic acids and metal-containing carboxylic salts show featured spectra and demonstrate that this combined, where necessary, with DOR and 3QMAS, can yield site-specific information for samples containing multiple oxygen sites. In addition to 17O NMR spectroscopy, extensive quantum mechanical calculations were carried out to explore the influence of hydrogen bonding at these oxygen sites. B3LYP/6-311G++(d,p) calculations of 17O NMR parameters yielded good agreement with the experimental values. Linear correlations are observed between the calculated 17O NMR parameters and the hydrogen bond strengths, suggesting the possibility of estimating H-bonding information from 17O NMR data. The calculations also revealed intermolecular H-bond effects on the 17O NMR shielding tensors. It is found that the delta11 and delta22 components of the chemical shift tensor at O-H and C=O, respectively, are aligned nearly parallel with the strong H-bond and shift away from this direction as the H-bond interaction weakens.     

17O MAS and 3QMAS NMR investigation of crystalline V(2)O(5) and layered V(2)O(5).nH(2)O gels

The environments for oxygen sites in crystalline V(2)O(5) and in layered vanadia gels produced via sol-gel synthesis have been investigated using (17)O MAS and 3QMAS NMR. For crystalline V(2)O(5), three structural oxygen sites were observed: V=O (vanadyl), V(2)O (doubly coordinated), and V(3)O (triply coordinated). Line-shape parameters for these sites were determined from numerical simulations of the MAS spectra. For the vanadia gels at various stages of dehydration, assignments have been proposed for numerous vanadyl, doubly coordinated, and triply coordinated oxygen sites. In addition, by correlating the (17)O MAS and 3QMAS NMR, (51)V MAS NMR, and thermogravimetric analysis data, the coordination of water sites has been established. On the basis of these results, the gel structure and its evolution at various stages of hydration have been detailed. Upon rehydration of the layered gel, we observed a preferred site for initial water readsorption. The oxygen atoms of these readsorbed water molecules readily exchanged into all types of oxygen sites even at room temperature.     

(23)Na multiple-quantum MAS NMR of the perovskites NaNbO(3) and NaTaO(3)

The distorted perovskites NaTaO(3) and NaNbO(3) have been studied using (23)Na multiple-quantum (MQ) MAS NMR. NaTaO(3) was prepared by high temperature solid state synthesis and the NMR spectra are consistent with the expected room temperature structure of the material (space group Pbnm), with a single crystallographic sodium site. Two samples of NaNbO(3) were studied. The first, a commercially available sample which was annealed at 900 degrees C, showed two crystallographic sodium sites, as expected for the room temperature structure of the material (space group Pbcm). The second sample, prepared by a low temperature hydrothermal method, showed the presence of four sodium sites, two of which match the expected room temperature structure and the second pair, another polymorph of the material (space group P21ma). This is consistent with powder X-ray diffraction data which showed weak extra peaks which can be accounted for by the presence of this second polymorph. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations support our conclusions, and aid assignment of the NMR spectra. Finally, we discuss the measured NMR parameters in relation to other studies of sodium in high coordination sites in the solid state.     

Oxygen sites and network coordination in sodium germanate glasses and crystals: high-resolution oxygen-17 and sodium-23 NMR

Sodium germanate glasses are well-studied materials in which, unlike silicates but analogous to borates, the major structural consequence of alkali addition is generally thought to involve a coordination number increase of the network-forming Ge cations. However, the nature of this change, in particular quantifying fractions of nonbridging oxygens and of five- and/or six-coordinated Ge, has remained unresolved. We present here high-resolution 17O results, including triple-quantum MAS NMR (3QMAS), on a series of crystalline model compounds that allow the definition of ranges of chemical shifts corresponding to oxygens bonded to various coordinations of Ge. These include quartz- and rutile-structured GeO2, Na4Ge9O20, Na2Ge4O9, and Na2GeO3 (germanium dioxide, sodium enneagermanate, sodium tetragermanate, and sodium metagermanate). 3QMAS spectra of Na-germanate glasses ranging from 0% to 27% Na2O clearly show the development of partially resolved peaks as alkali is added, corresponding to signals from nonbridging oxygens (in the highest Na glasses) and to oxygen bridging between one four-coordinated and one higher coordinated Ge. As in conventional models of this system, nonbridging oxygen contents are much lower than in corresponding silicates. Although we do not directly distinguish between five- and six-coordinated Ge, modeling of bridging oxygen populations and comparison with measured speciation suggest that substantial proportions of both species are likely to be present. High-field 23Na MAS NMR shows systematic decreases in mean Na-O bond distance and/or coordination number with increasing alkali content that can be compared with published results for high-temperature liquids. These results, as well as comparison of molar volumes of glasses and high-temperature liquids, suggest the possibility of significant temperature effects on liquid structure.     

Multinuclear high-resolution NMR study of compounds from the ternary system NaF-CaF2-AlF3: from determination to modeling of NMR parameters

27Al and 23Na NMR satellite transition spectroscopy and 3Q magic-angle-spinning spectra are recorded for three compounds from the ternary NaF-CaF2-AlF3 system. The quadrupolar frequency nuQ, asymmetry parameter etaQ, and isotropic chemical shift deltaiso are extracted from the spectrum reconstructions for five aluminum and four sodium sites. The quadrupolar parameters are calculated using the LAPW-based ab initio code WIEN2k. It is necessary to perform a structure optimization of all compounds to ensure a fine agreement between experimental and calculated parameters. By a comparison of experimental and calculated values, an attribution of all of the 27Al and 23Na NMR lines to the crystallographic sites is achieved. High-speed 19F NMR MAS spectra are recorded and reconstructed for the same compounds, leading to the determination of 18 isotropic chemical shifts. The superposition model developed by Bureau et al. is used, allowing a bijective assignment of the 19F NMR lines to the crystallographic sites.     

(17)O multiple-quantum MAS NMR study of high-pressure hydrous magnesium silicates.

Two (17)O-enriched hydrous magnesium silicates, the minerals hydroxyl-chondrodite (2Mg(2)SiO(4).Mg(OH)(2)) and hydroxyl-clinohumite (4Mg(2)SiO(4).Mg(OH)(2)), were synthesized. High-resolution "isotropic" (17)O (I = (5)/(2)) NMR spectra of the powdered solids were obtained using three- and five-quantum MAS NMR at magnetic field strengths of 9.4 and 16.4 T. These multiple-quantum (MQ) MAS spectra were analyzed to yield the (17)O isotropic chemical shifts (delta(CS)) and quadrupolar parameters (C(Q), eta and their "product" P(Q)) of the distinct oxygen sites resolved in each sample. The values obtained were compared with those found previously for forsterite (Mg(2)SiO(4)). The (17)O resonances of the protonated (hydroxyl) sites were recorded and assigned with the aid of (17)O [(1)H] cross-polarization and comparison with the spectrum of (17)O-enriched brucite (Mg(OH)(2)). Using all of these data, complete assignments of the five crystallographically inequivalent oxygen sites in hydroxyl-chondrodite and of the nine such sites in hydroxyl-clinohumite are suggested. The validity of these assignments are supported by the observation of a correlation between (17)O isotropic chemical shift and Si-O bond length. The (29)Si MAS NMR spectra of the two minerals were also obtained.     

23Na, 29Si, and 13C MAS NMR investigation of glass-forming reactions between Na2CO3 and SiO2

The glass-forming reactions between sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) and silica (SiO2) have been investigated by 23Na, 29Si, and 13C magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy. The multinuclear MAS NMR approach identifies and quantifies reaction products and intermediates, both glassy and crystalline. A series of powdered batches of initial composition Na2CO3.xSiO2 (x = 1, 2) corresponding to a sodium metasilicate (Na2SiO3) and sodium disilicate (Na2Si2O5) stoichiometry were investigated after periods of isothermal and nonisothermal heat treatments at different temperatures. Analysis of the 23Na quadrupolar coupling parameters has identified the early reaction product in all cases as crystalline Na2SiO3. In the nonisothermal experiment, this reaction is preceded by an early silica-rich melt phase formed around 850 degrees C. The early reactions are controlled by solid-state Na+ diffusion across the reaction zone in the grain interface layer. Crystalline Na2SiO3 precipitates in the interface layer, increasing its thickness between the Na2CO3 and the SiO2 grains and slowing down the rate of Na+ migration. This creates a secondary phase, which is temperature dependent. At low temperatures, where Na+ migration is impaired, the production of Na2SiO3 ceases and silica-richer phases are precipitated. In the case of the sodium disilicate batch, where excess SiO2 is present, a secondary reaction of Na2SiO3 with SiO2 forming a glassy phase is observed. A transient carbon-bearing phase has been identified by 13C NMR as a NaCO3- complex loosely bound to bridging oxygens in the silicate network at the SiO2 grain surface.     

First-principles simulations of the <Superscript>27</Superscript>Al and <Superscript>17</Superscript>O solid-state NMR spectra of the CaAl<Subscript>2</Subscript>Si<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>10</Subscript> glass

The local and medium-range structure of the 20CaO·20Al₂O₃·60SiO₂ glass generated by classical molecular dynamics simulations has been compared to NMR experiments by computing the ²⁷Al and ¹⁷O NMR parameters and NMR spectra from first-principles simulations. The calculation of the NMR parameters (chemical shielding and quadrupolar parameters), which are then used to simulate solid-state MAS and 3QMAS NMR spectra, is achieved by the gauge including projector augmented-wave and the projector augmented-wave methods on the DFT-PBE relaxed structure. The NMR spectra calculated with the present approach are found to be in excellent agreement with the experimental data, providing an unambiguous view of the local and medium-range structure of aluminosilicate glasses.     

Solid-state 23Na, 139La, 27Al and 29Si nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic investigations of cation location and migration in zeolites LaNaY

²³Na Magic-angle spinning (MAS), double rotation (DOR) and two-dimensional nutation nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and static ¹³⁹La NMR spectroscopy were applied to study the location and migration of sodium and lanthanum cations in faujasites. Generally, ²³Na MAS NMR spectroscopy of as-exchanged and hydrated zeolites LaNaY was used for the quantitative determination of non-localized Na⁺ in the large cavities at a ²³Na NMR shift of −9 ppm and of sodium cations observed at −13 ppm. The latter originate from Na⁺ ions located on position SII in the large cavities, on position SI in the hexagonal prisms and on positions SII′ and/or SI′ in the sodalite cages. The ²³Na MAS NMR signal at about −13 ppm was found to be caused by two coonents. The component that is characterized by a quadrupolar interaction causing a field-dependent shift and a signal at v₁ = 2v_rf in the two-dimensional quadrupolar nutation spectra is attributed to Na⁺ enclosed in the sodalite cages. The ²³Na MAS NMR spectra of dehydrated lanthanum-exchanged faujasites are characterized by a low-field Gaussian line of Na⁺ located on SI positions in the hexagonal prisms and a high-field quadrupole pattern of Na⁺ located on positions SII and SI′. The migration of lanthanum cations from the large cavities to position SI′ in the sodalite cages was monitored by ¹³⁹La NMR spectroscopy and verified by a theoretical estimation of the electric field gradient. The lanthanum migration was found to be coupled with a strain of SiOT and AlOT angles observed by ²⁹Si and ²⁷Al MAS NMR high-field shifts, respectively.     

17O and 29Si NMR parameters of MgSiO3 phases from high-resolution solid-state NMR spectroscopy and first-principles calculations

The 29Si and 17O NMR parameters of six polymorphs of MgSiO3 were determined through a combination of high-resolution solid-state NMR and first-principles gauge including projector augmented wave (GIPAW) formalism calculations using periodic boundary conditions. MgSiO3 is an important component of the Earth's mantle that undergoes structural changes as a function of pressure and temperature. For the lower pressure polymorphs (ortho-, clino-, and protoenstatite), all oxygen species in the 17O high-resolution triple-quantum magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectra were resolved and assigned. These assignments differ from those tentatively suggested in previous work on the basis of empirical experimental correlations. The higher pressure polymorphs of MgSiO3 (majorite, akimotoite, and perovskite) are stabilized at pressures corresponding to the Earth's transition zone and lower mantle, with perovskite being the major constituent at depths >660 km. We present the first 17O NMR data for these materials and confirm previous 29Si work in the literature. The use of high-resolution multiple-quantum MAS (MQMAS) and satellite-transition MAS (STMAS) experiments allows us to resolve distinct oxygen species, and full assignments are suggested. The six polymorphs exhibit a wide variety of structure types, providing an ideal opportunity to consider the variation of NMR parameters (both shielding and quadrupolar) with local structure, including changes in coordination number, local geometry (bond distances and angles), and bonding. For example, we find that, although there is a general correlation of increasing 17O chemical shift with increasing Si-O bond length, the shift observed also depends upon the exact coordination environment.     

NMR Characterization of the Na(3)AlP(3)O(9)N and Na(2)Mg(2)P(3)O(9)N Nitridophosphates: Location of the (NaAl)/Mg(2) Substitution

We report a solid state nuclear magnetic resonance study of (23)Na, (27)Al, and (31)P in two crystalline nitridophosphate phases, Na(3)AlP(3)O(9)N and Na(2)Mg(2)P(3)O(9)N, including two-dimensional multiple-quantum magic angle spinning (MQ-MAS) experiments on (23)Na to separate overlapping lines. The previously described single-crystal structure of Na(3)AlP(3)O(9)N gives crystallographic examples of Al(OP)(6) and P(O[Al,Na])(2)(ONa)(N[P,Na]) environments and three different environments of sodium: two Na(O)(6) and one Na(O)(6)(N). From these observations we characterize the modification of the local environment of phosphorus and show that Mg only substitutes Na in the Na2 site of the Na(2)Mg(2)P(3)O(9)N structure.     

Structural characterization of glassy phases in the system Na2O-Ga2O3-P2O5 by MAS and solution NMR and vibrational spectroscopy: II. Structure of the phosphate network

The structure of the phosphate network of glasses in the system Na2O-Ga2O3-P2O5 has been investigated as a function of the Na/Ga molar ratio and the phosphate composition corresponding to a mono, di, tri, tetra and meta phosphate stoichiometry. The glass is made of phosphate molecular groups of different lengths linked by the cations with rather ionic (Na) or more covalent (Ga) bonds except in the case of the orthophosphate composition for which we only found isolated PO4(3-) ions. The vibrational spectra are sensitive to composition variations but the band width and the couplings between the different groups prevent any quantitative determination. 31P MAS-NMR gives an in-situ information on the P environment in the glass but the signals are often large and ill defined so that the assignment is not at all straightforward. On the other hand, 31P solution NMR gives sharper signals, allowing more quantitative determinations but the dissolution process always introduces some indeterminacy on the real glass structure which can be minimized by a careful preparation of the solution.     

Structural studies of NaPO3-MoO3 glasses by solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance and Raman spectroscopy

Vitreous samples were prepared in the (100 - x)% NaPO(3)-x% MoO(3) (0 相似文献   

High-pressure delta-Al(OH)3 and delta-AlOOH phases and isostructural hydroxides/oxyhydroxides: new structural insights from high-resolution 1H and 27Al NMR

In order to shed light on the proton distributions and order/disorder in high-pressure delta-Al(OH)3 and delta-AlOOH phases, two-dimensional, high-resolution 1H CRAMPS (FSLG)-MAS NMR and 27Al 3QMAS NMR spectra have been obtained. For delta-Al(OH)3, the 1H CRAMPS-MAS NMR revealed two peaks with an intensity ratio close to 2:1. The 27Al MAS and 3QMAS NMR suggest a single Al site with a well-defined local structure. For delta-AlOOH, the 1H and 27Al NMR indicate the presence of a single H and Al site each. These results are consistent with crystal structures refined from X-ray diffraction. For comparison, 1H MAS and CRAMPS-MAS NMR spectra were also obtained for several other hydroxides/oxyhydroxides, including In(OH)3 and InOOH that have similar structures to delta-Al(OH)3 and delta-AlOOH, respectively. These data not only provide additional insights into the proton distributions in these important crystal structure classes but also together provide a better defined quantitative correlation between 1H chemical shift and hydrogen-bonding O...O distance.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, and solid-state NMR spectroscopy of a salt-inclusion stannosilicate: [Na3F][SnSi3O9

A salt-inclusion stannosilicate, [Na3F][SnSi3O9], has been synthesized using a flux-growth method and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The structure consists of six-membered silicate rings linked via corner sharing by SnIVO6 octahedra to form a 3-D framework that delimits two types of channels. The F atoms and Na atoms are located in the structural channels and form a dimer with the anti-Al2Cl6(g) structure. This stannosilicate adopts a new structure and is the first metal silicate that contains both Na+ and F- ions in the channels. The 19F and 29Si MAS NMR and 23Na MQMAS NMR spectra are consistent with the crystallographic results.     

A solid-state 39K and 13C NMR study of polymeric potassium metallocenes

The quadrupolar Carr-Purcell Meiboom-Gill (QCPMG) and double frequency sweep (DFS)/QCPMG pulse sequences are applied in order to acquire the first solid-state 39K NMR spectra of organometallic complexes, the polymeric main group metallocenes cyclopentadienyl potassium (CpK) and pentamethylcyclopentadienyl potassium (Cp*K). Piecewise QCPMG NMR techniques are used to acquire a high S/N 39K spectrum of the broad central transition of Cp*K, which is ca. 200 kHz in breadth. Analytical and numerical simulations indicate that there is a significant quadrupolar interaction present at both potassium nuclei (C(Q)(39K) = 2.55(6)/2.67(8) MHz and 4.69(8) MHz for CpK (static/MAS) and Cp*K, respectively). Experimental quadrupolar asymmetry parameters suggest that both structures are bent about the potassium atoms (eta(Q)(39K) = 0.28(3)/0.29(3) for CpK (static/MAS) and eta(Q)(39K) = 0.30(3) for Cp*K). Variable-temperature (VT) 39K NMR experiments on CpK elucidate temperature-dependent changes in quadrupolar parameters which can be rationalized in terms of alterations of bond distances and angles with temperature. 13C CP/MAS NMR experiments are conducted upon both samples to quantify the carbon chemical shielding anisotropy (CSA) at the Cp' ring carbon atoms. Ab initio carbon CSA and 39K electric-field gradient (EFG) and CSA calculations are conducted and discussed for the CpK complex, in order to correlate the experimental NMR parameters with molecular structure in CpK and Cp*K. 39K DFS/QCPMG and 13C CP/MAS experiments prove invaluable for probing molecular structure, temperature-dependent structural changes, and the presence of impurities in these systems.     

The mixed network former effect in glasses: solid state NMR and XPS structural studies of the glass system (Na2O)(x)(BPO4)(1-x)

The structural organization of sodium borophosphate glasses with composition (Na(2)O)(x)(BPO(4))(1-x) (0.25 ≤x≤ 0.55) has been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), as well as single- and double resonance (11)B and (31)P magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR. (11)B MAS-NMR data indicate the dominance of anionic four-coordinated boron units, and (31)P MAS NMR reveals the successive transformation of neutral P(3) into singly charged P(2) units and their further transformation into doubly charged P(1) units at high Na(2)O contents. The quantification of these units provides detailed insight into the competition of the network formers borate and phosphate for the network modifier oxide. At low modifier content (x < 0.35), the anionic species are almost exclusively borate (B(4)) units, whereas at higher sodium concentrations, large numbers of anionic phosphate (P(2) and P(1)) species are formed. O-1s XPS data provide a quantitative distinction between B-O-B, B-O-P, and P-O-P linkages as well as non-bridging oxygen atoms, and comparable numbers can be extracted from (11)B and (31)P MAS-NMR experiments. Both XPS as well as (31)P{(11)B} and (11)B{(31)P} rotational echo double resonance (REDOR) NMR results reveal strong interactions between the two network formers boron oxide and phosphorus oxide, resulting in a preferred formation of B-O-P linkages. For higher Na(2)O contents, however, the successive network modification diminishes this preference, resulting in close-to-statistical network connectivities. Compositional trends of T(g) in the Na(2)O-B(2)O(3)-P(2)O(5) glass forming system can be correlated with the overall network connectedness, expressed by the total number of bridging oxygen atoms per network former species. However, separate linear correlations are observed for different compositional lines, indicating also the relevance of the type of network former linkages present.     

Di- and tricobalt Dawson sandwich complexes: synthesis,spectroscopic characterization,and electrochemical behavior of Na(18)[(NaOH(2))(2)Co(2)(P(2)W(15)O(56))(2)] and Na(17)[(NaOH(2))Co(3)(H(2)O)(P(2)W(15)O(56))(2)

The reaction of the trivacant Dawson anion alpha-[P(2)W(15)O(56)](12-) and the divalent cations Co(2+) is known to form the tetracobalt sandwich complex [Co(4)(H(2)O)(2)(P(2)W(15)O(56))(2)](16-) (Co(4)P(4)W(30)). Two new complexes, with different Co/P(2)W(15) stoichiometry, [(NaOH(2))(2)Co(2)(P(2)W(15)O(56))(2)](18-) (Na(2)Co(2)P(4)W(30)) and [(NaOH(2))Co(3)(H(2)O)(P(2)W(15)O(56))(2)](17-) (NaCo(3)P(4)W(30)), have been synthesized as aqueous-soluble sodium salts, by a slight modification of the reaction conditions. Both compounds were characterized by IR, elemental analysis, and (31)P solution NMR spectroscopy. These species are "lacunary" sandwich complexes, which add Co(2+) cations according to Na(2)Co(2)P(4)W(30) + Co(2+) --> NaCo(3)P(4)W(30) + Na(+) followed by NaCo(3)P(4)W(30) + Co(2+) --> Co(4)P(4)W(30) + Na(+). A Li(+)/Na(+) exchange in the cavity was evidenced by (31)P dynamic NMR spectroscopy. The electrochemical behaviors of the sandwich complexes [(NaOH(2))Co(3)(H(2)O)(P(2)W(15)O(56))(2)](17-) and [(NaOH(2))(2)Co(2)(P(2)W(15)O(56))(2)](18-) were investigated in aqueous solutions and compared with that of [Co(4)(H(2)O)(2)(P(2)W(15)O(56))(2)](16-). These complexes showed an electrocatalytic effect on nitrite reduction.