From Small {Mo2O4}2+ Aggregates to Infinite Solids

Mononuclear oxohalomolybdates(V) readily generate in the mixtures of alcohols and pyridines through a series of substitution and dimerization reactions, still reactive dinuclear {Mo₂O₄}²⁺ fragments which assemble together into larger cluster species. In all, the {Mo₂O₄}²⁺ unit with the two molybdenum atoms connected by a single metal-metal bond, appears as a recurrent structural motif, either as a single {Mo₂O₄}²⁺ unit in dinuclear compounds or as assemblies of two, three, four or six units through bridging oxygen donor ligands in tetranuclear, hexanuclear, octanuclear and dodecanuclear compounds, respectively. Pyridine, halide, alkoxide and alcohol ligands occupy the peripheral positions of the molybdenum oxide cores. Their structures will be presented in terms of different arrangements and connectivities among the basic dinuclear building blocks. By using a suitable linker, an oxalate adopting a bisbidentate binding mode was shown to serve the purpose, the {Mo₂O₄}²⁺ units were connected into infinite chains.     

Assembly of a family of mixed metal {Mo:V} polyoxometalates templated by TeO3(2-): {Mo12V12Te3}, {Mo12V12Te2} and {Mo17V8Te}

The influence of the pyramidal heteroanion, TeO(3)(2-) in the self-assembly of mixed metal (Mo/V) systems, is demonstrated by the isolation of three novel mixed-metal, mixed-valence architectures, {Mo(12)V(12)Te(3)} (1), {Mo(12)V(12)Te(2)} (2) and {Mo(17)V(8)Te} (3) with the tellurium centres exhibiting the novel μ(8)-TeO(4) and μ(9)-TeO(3) coordination modes while compounds 1 and 2 were discovered utilizing ESI mass spectrometry.     

Xanthate complexes of {Nb2S4}4+

Alkyl xanthate complexes [Nb₂S₄(S₂COR)₄] (R = Et (I), iso-Pr (II), n-Bu (III), and iso-Am (IV)) are synthesized by the ligand exchange reaction in solutions from (Et₄N)₄[Nb₂S₄(NCS)₈] and the corresponding potassium salts in satisfactory yields. The X-ray diffraction analyses are carried out for the isopropyl xanthate (II) and butyl xanthate (III) complexes. From the view point of mutual arrangement of chelate cycles, complexes II and III exist in crystals as ΛΔ isomers. The niobium-niobium distances are 2.8789(4) Å in complex II and 2.8856(3) Å in complex III. The first example for the formation of short S...S contacts between the disulfide ligands of the {Nb₂S₄}⁴⁺ fragments in the crystal structure of III is found (3.146 Å).     

Controlling transformations in the assembly of polyoxometalate clusters: {Mo11V7}, {Mo17V8} and {Mo72V30}

The reaction of molybdate with vanadium(V) in the presence of sulfite anions is explored showing how, via cation control, stepwise assembly through the {Mo(11)V(7)} cluster yields a {M(25)} cluster-based compound, [Mo(VI)(11)V(V)(5)V(IV)(2)O(52)(μ(9)-SO(3))(Mo(VI)(6)V(V)O(22))](10-) (1a), which was first discovered using cryospray mass spectrometry, whereas switching the cation away from ammonium allows the direct formation of the spherical 'Keplerate' {Mo(72)V(30)} cluster.     

Structural Variety of Niobium(V) Polyoxo Clusters Obtained from the Reaction with Aromatic Monocarboxylic Acids: Isolation of {Nb2O}, {Nb4O4} and {Nb8O12} Cores

The reactivity of aryl monocarboxylic acids (benzoic, 1- or 2-naphtoic, 4’-methylbiphenyl-4-carboxylic, and anthracene-9-carboxylic acids) as complexing agents for the ethoxide niobium(V) (Nb(OEt)₅ precursor has been investigated. A total of eight coordination complexes were isolated with distinct niobium(V) nuclearities as well as carboxylate complexation states. The use of benzoic acid gives a tetranuclear core Nb₄(μ₂-O)₄(L)₄(OEt)₈] (L=benzoate ( 1 )) with four Nb−(μ₂-O)−Nb linkages in a square plane configuration. A similar tetramer, 7 , was obtained with 2-naphtoic acid by using a 55 % humid atmosphere synthetic route. Two types of dinuclear brick were identified with one central Nb−(μ₂-O)−Nb linkage; they differ in their complexation state, with one bridging carboxylate ([Nb₂(μ₂-O)(μ₂-OEt)(L)(OEt)₆], with L=1-naphtoate ( 3 ) or anthracene-9-carboxylate ( 5 )) or two bridging carboxylate groups ([Nb₂(μ₂-O)(L)₂(OEt)₆], with L=4’-methylbiphenyl-4-carboxylic ( 4 ) or anthracene-9-carboxylate ( 6 )). An octanuclear moiety [Nb₈(μ₂-O)₁₂(L)₈(η₁-L)_4−x(OEt)_4+x] (with L=2-naphtoate, x=0 or 2; 8 ) was obtained by using a solvothermal route in acetonitrile; it has a cubic configuration with niobium centers at each node, linked by 12 μ₂-O groups. The formation of the niobium oxo clusters was characterized by infrared and liquid ¹H NMR spectroscopy in order to analyze the esterification reaction, which induces the release of water molecules that further react through oxolation with niobium atoms, in different {Nb₂O}, {Nb₄O₄} and {Nb₈O₁₂} nuclearities.     

Hydroxamic acid dinuclear complexes of molybdenum(V) and molybdenum(III)

Summary Molybdenum(V) and molybdenum(III) complexes [Mo₂O₃L₄] and [Mo₂L₆] derived from hydroxamic acids (HL) were prepared and identified by Raman, i.r., e.s.r., electronic spectra and analytical data. The low magnetic moments of the dinuclear complexes are due to in part to intramolecular interactions. Electronic spectra and vibrational studies indicate the presence of a Mo₂O₃ core in the molybdenum(V) complexes. The relative intensities of the, main and satellite peaks in e.s.r. spectra indicate the dinulcear nature of molybdenum(III) hydroxamates.     

Microwave assisted synthesis of molybdenum and tungsten tetracarbonyl complexes with a pyrazolylpyridine ligand. Crystal structure of cis-[Mo(CO)4{ethyl[3-(2-pyridyl)-1-pyrazolyl]acetate}

We report the one-step syntheses in good yields of the complexes cis-[M(CO)4(pzpy)] {M = Mo, W; pzpy = ethyl[3-(2-pyridyl)-1-pyrazolyl]acetate} directly from the corresponding M(CO)6 starting materials by using microwave-assisted heating and reaction times of either 30 s (M = Mo) or 15 min (M = W). The structure of the molybdenum tetracarbonyl complex was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The compound is monomeric and the molybdenum atom has a highly distorted octahedral geometry. The close packing of the individual cis-[Mo(CO)4(pzpy)] species is essentially driven by the need to fill the space effectively, closely mediated by weak C-H-O and pi-pi interactions.     

A new dinuclear molybdenum(V)-sulfur complex containing citrate ligand: Synthesis and characterization of K2.5Na2NH4[Mo2O2S2(cit)2].5H2O

The complex, K_2.5Na₂NH₄[Mo₂O₂S₂(cit)₂]·5H₂O (1), was obtained by crystallization from a solution of (NH₄)₂MoS₄, potassium citrate (K₃cit) and hydroxyl sodium in methanol and water under an atmosphere of pure nitrogen at ambient temperature. The crystals are triclinic, space group P1¯, a = 7.376 (3)Å, b = 14.620 (2) Å, c = 14.661 (1) Å, α = 71.10 (1)°, β = 81.77 (1)°, γ = 78.27(2)°, R = 0.0584 for 2545 observed (I > 2σ (I)) reflections. Single crystal structure analysis reveals that citrate ligand coordinated to molybdenum atom through two carboxylato oxygens and one deprotonated hydroxyl oxygen together with two bridging sulfur atoms and a terminal oxygen atom completes distorted coordination octahedron around each molybdenum atom. Principal dimensions are Mo = O₁, 1.707 Å (av); Mo-S_b, 2.341 Å (av); Mo-O_(hydroxyl), 2.021 Å (av); Mo-O_{(α-carboxyl)}, 2.1290 Å (av) and Mo-O_{(β-carboxyl)}, 2.268(av) Å. IR spectrum is in agreement with the structure.     

Nanoscale assemblies of gigantic molecular {Mo154}-rings: (dimethyldioctadecylammonium)20[Mo154O462H8(H2O)70

Clusters based on the mixed-valence gigantic inorganic ring [Mo154O462H14(H2O)70]14- ({Mo154}-ring) and dimethyldioctadecylammonium (DODA) were combined to form novel molecular assemblies of an inorganic-organic hybrid molecular system as Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) and cast films. (DODA)20[Mo154O462H8(H2O)70] (2) was prepared by cation exchange and was characterized by a combination of thermogravimetry, IR, UV-vis-NIR, 1H NMR, and XRD measurements. The salt 2 was soluble in common organic solvents, and the chemical stability of {Mo154}-ring encapsulated by DODA cationic surfactants in CHCl3 was found to be higher than that of the "native" sodium salt of the {Mo154}-ring in H2O. Uniform spherical vesicle-like molecular assemblies of (DODA)20[Mo154O462H8(H2O)70] were observed in dilute THF, whose average diameter of 95 nm and a normalized variance of 5.7% were confirmed by a X-ray small-angle scattering. Deposition of 2 as a cast film showed circular domains with a typical diameter of approximately 100 nm, indicating possible similarities between solution and surface-deposited structures. The resulting LB films of salt 2 were transferred from an acidic buffer subphase with pH = 1.5 onto mica, giving a two-dimensional film surface with a unity transfer ratio. Further, the electronic absorption spectra of the LB multilayer were consistent with the classic type II mixed-valence MoV/MoVI electronic state well know for molybdenum blue {Mo154}-ring systems, and it appears that on the surface the plane of the {Mo154}-ring is approximately parallel to the substrate surface, as indicated by polarized electronic spectra, while the alkyl chains of DODA were relatively normal to the substrate surface. Therefore, the layer between the {Mo154}-rings and DODA cations was alternately stacked along the direction of film propagation. Finally, it was found that the surface morphology of the cast and LB films was determined by the molecular assembly of (DODA)20[Mo154O462H8(H2O)70] in solution and the air-water interface, respectively.     

Relationship between V4+ and Mo6+ Contents in V2O5 doped with MoO3

The V⁴⁺ content in V₂O₅ doped with MoO₃ is measured by a spectroscopic method. The influence of the oxygen pressure is also considered. Up to roughly 3.5 at.-% Mo/(Mo+V) the V⁴⁺ fraction is equal to the Mo⁶⁺ fraction for samples sintered in air. Increase of PO₂ gives a decrease in the measured values of the V⁴⁺ fraction for the 5, 10 and 33 at.-% Mo-doped samples.     

Synthesis and Characterization of 1,3,2‐Bis (arylamino) phospholidine, 2‐oxide Derivatives: Crystal Structures of $\rm Cl(O)\overline{PN(p-Me-C_{6}H_{4})CH_{2}CH_{2}N}(p-Me-C_{6}H_{4})$ and $\rm ((CH_{2}C_{6}H_{5})(O)\overline{PN(p-Me-C_{6}H_{4})CH_{2}CH_{2}N}(p-Me-C_{6}H_{4})$

Using phosphoryl chloride as a substrate, a family of 1,3,2‐bis(arylamino) phospholidine, 2‐oxide of the general formula ; (X=Cl, 6a ; X=NMe₂, 1b ; X=N(CH₂C₆H₅)(CH₃), 2b ; X=NHC(O)C₆H₅, 3b ; X=4Me‐C₆H₄O, 4b ; X=C₆H₅O, 5b ; X=NHC₆H₁₁, 6b ; X=OC₄H₈N, 7b ; X=C₅H₁₀N, 8b ; X=NH₂, 9b ; X=F, 10b and Ar=4Me‐C₆H₄) was prepared and characterized by ¹H, ¹⁹F, ³¹P and ¹³C NMR and IR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. A general and practical method for the synthesis of these compounds was selected. The structures of 6a and 2b were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction techniques. The low temperature NMR spectra of 2b revealed the restricted rotation of P‐N bond according to two independent molecules in crystalline lattice.     

Metal-catalysed oxidation processes in thiosemicarbazones: new complexes with the ligand N-{2-([4-N-ethylthiosemicarbazone]methyl)phenyl}-p-toluenesulfonamide

The coordination behaviour of a new thiosemicarbazone Schiff-base building block, N-{2-([4-N-ethylthiosemicarbazone]methyl)phenyl}-p-toluenesulfonamide, H2L1 (1), incorporating a bulky tosyl group, towards Mn II, Fe II, Co II, Ni II, Cu II, Zn II, Cd II, Ag I, Sn II, and Pb II has been investigated by means of an electrochemical preparative procedure. Most metal complexes of L1 have the general formula [M(L1)]2.nX (M=Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Cd, Pb; n=0-4, X=H2O or CH3CN), as confirmed by the structure of [Pb(L1)]2 (15), in which the lone pair on lead is stereochemically active. This lead(II) complex shows an intense fluorescence emission with a quantum yield of 0.13. In the case of silver, the complex formed was found to possess a stoichiometry of [Ag2(L1)]2.3H2O. During reactions with manganese and copper metals, interesting catalysed processes have been found to take place, with remarkable consequences regarding the ligand skeleton structure. In synthesising the manganese complex, we obtained an unexpected dithiolate thiosemicarbazone tosyl ligand, H2L2, as a side-product, which has been fully characterised, including by X-ray diffraction analysis. In the case of copper, the solid complex has the formula [CuL1]2, but the crystallised product shows the copper atoms coordinated to a new cyclised thiosemicarbazone ligand, H2L3, as in the structures of the complexes [Cu(L3)]2.CH3CN (8) and [Cu(L3)(H2O)]2.CH3CN.H2O (9). The zinc complex [Zn(L1)]4 (12) displays a particular tetranuclear zeolite-type structure capable of hosting small molecules or ions, presumably through hydrogen bonding.     

Redox behavior of $${\text{VO}}^{2 + } / {\text{VO}}_{2}^{ + }$$ as a simulant of $${\text{NpO}}_{2}^{ + } / {\text{NpO}}_{2}^{2 + }$$NpO2+/NpO22+ in boiling nitric acid solution

To evaluate the redox behavior of \({\text{VO}}^{2 + } / {\text{VO}}_{2}^{ + }\) as a simulant of \({\text{NpO}}_{2}^{ + } / {\text{NpO}}_{2}^{2 + }\) in boiling nitric acid solution, i.e., typical operating conditions for nuclear fuel reprocessing plants, oxidation rate measurements for VO²⁺ in boiling and non-boiling nitric acid solutions, thermodynamic calculations, and kinetic calculations were performed. The results indicated that the apparent oxidation rate of VO²⁺ to \({\text{VO}}_{2}^{ + }\) is accelerated by a decrease in \({\text{NO}}_{2}^{ - }\) and HNO₂ concentrations owing to the boiling phenomena of nitric acid solution.     

Electrochemical and chemical reduction studies of molybdenum(VI)-and molybdenum (V)-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid complexes

Summary The electrochemical reduction characteristics of the molyb-denum(VI)-and molybdenum(V)-ethylenediaminetetraacetate complexes, [(MoO₃)₂Y]^4– and [Mo₂O₄Y]^2– respectively have been investigated as a function of pH and free ligand concentration. The nature of chemical reduction of these two complexes with sodium borohydride and sodium dithionite have also been studied in acetate and borate buffers. The electroactive species undergoing electrode reductions have been ascertained by analysing polarograms of the complexes. A mechanism has been proposed to account for the differences observed in the reactivities of these two complexes.