Theoretical studies on redox properties,protonation sites,and electronic spectrum of a new type of polyoxometalate [Ti12Nb6O44]10− by DFT

The electronic structure of a new type of polyoxometalate [Ti₁₂Nb₆O₄₄]^10? has been investigated using density functional theory (DFT). The calculations represent that the LUMO in fully oxidized [Ti₁₂Nb₆O₄₄]^10? delocalizes among the titanium (Ti) and niobium (Nb). Therefore, both Ti and Nb have the probability to accept extra electron when [Ti₁₂Nb₆O₄₄]^10? as catalyst is reduced, which has been reinforced by the spin density for the monoreduced specie [Ti₁₂Nb₆O₄₄]^11?. Three kinds of possible protonated isomers [HTi₁₂Nb₆O₄₄]^9? are discussed. The results reveal that the preferred protonation sites correspond to bridging oxygens Nb? O? Ti. In addition, the calculation of electronic spectrum shows that there is an obvious intramolecular charge transfer from oxygen to metal. The solvent effects were also considered in the calculations by using a conductor‐like screening model (COSMO) of solvation with the solvent‐excluding surface. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2009     

High‐Field Pulsed EPR Spectroscopy for the Speciation of the Reduced [PV2Mo10O40]6− Polyoxometalate Catalyst Used in Electron‐Transfer Oxidations

An in‐depth spectroscopic EPR investigation of a key intermediate, formally notated as [PV^IVV^VMo₁₀O₄₀]^6? and formed in known electron‐transfer and electron‐transfer/oxygen‐transfer reactions catalyzed by H₅PV₂Mo₁₀O₄₀, has been carried out. Pulsed EPR spectroscopy have been utilized: specifically, W‐band electron–electron double resonance (ELDOR)‐detected NMR and two‐dimensional (2D) hyperfine sub‐level correlation (HYSCORE) measurements, which resolved ⁹⁵Mo and ¹⁷O hyperfine interactions, and electron–nuclear double resonance (ENDOR), which gave the weak ⁵¹V and ³¹P interactions. In this way, two paramagnetic species related to [PV^IVV^VMo₁₀O₄₀]^6? were identified. The first species (30–35 %) has a vanadyl (VO²⁺)‐like EPR spectrum and is not situated within the polyoxometalate cluster. Here the VO²⁺ was suggested to be supported on the Keggin cluster and can be represented as an ion pair, [PV^VMo₁₀O₃₉]^8?[V^IVO²⁺]. This species originates from the parent H₅PV₂Mo₁₀O₄₀ in which the vanadium atoms are nearest neighbors and it is suggested that this isomer is more likely to be reactive in electron‐transfer/oxygen‐transfer reaction oxidation reactions. In the second (70–65 %) species, the V^IV remains embedded within the polyoxometalate framework and originates from reduction of distal H₅PV₂Mo₁₀O₄₀ isomers to yield an intact cluster, [PV^IVV^VMo₁₀O₄₀]^6?.     

Elusive Zintl Ions [μ‐HSi4]3− and [Si5]2− in Liquid Ammonia: Protonation States,Sites, and Bonding Situation Evaluated by NMR and Theory

The existence of [μ‐HSi₄]^3? in liquid ammonia solutions is confirmed by ¹H and ²⁹Si NMR experiments. Both NMR and quantum chemical calculations reveal that the H atom bridges two Si atoms of the [Si₄]^4? cluster, contrary to the expectation that it is located at one vertex Si of the tetrahedron. The calculations also indicate that in the formation of [μ‐HSi₄]^3?, protonation is driven by a high charge density and an increase of electron delocalization compared to [Si₄]^4?. Additionally, [Si₅]^2? was detected for the first time and characterized by NMR. Calculations show that it is resistant to protonation, owing to a strong charge delocalization, which is significantly reduced upon protonation. Thus, our methods reveal three silicides in liquid ammonia: unprotonated [Si₅]^2?, terminally protonated [HSi₉]^3?, and bridge‐protonated [μ‐HSi₄]^3?. The protonation trend can be roughly predicted by the difference in charge delocalization between the parent compound and the product, which can be finely tuned by the presence of counter ions in solution.     

Elusive Zintl Ions [μ‐HSi4]3− and [Si5]2− in Liquid Ammonia: Protonation States,Sites, and Bonding Situation Evaluated by NMR and Theory

The existence of [μ‐HSi₄]^3? in liquid ammonia solutions is confirmed by ¹H and ²⁹Si NMR experiments. Both NMR and quantum chemical calculations reveal that the H atom bridges two Si atoms of the [Si₄]^4? cluster, contrary to the expectation that it is located at one vertex Si of the tetrahedron. The calculations also indicate that in the formation of [μ‐HSi₄]^3?, protonation is driven by a high charge density and an increase of electron delocalization compared to [Si₄]^4?. Additionally, [Si₅]^2? was detected for the first time and characterized by NMR. Calculations show that it is resistant to protonation, owing to a strong charge delocalization, which is significantly reduced upon protonation. Thus, our methods reveal three silicides in liquid ammonia: unprotonated [Si₅]^2?, terminally protonated [HSi₉]^3?, and bridge‐protonated [μ‐HSi₄]^3?. The protonation trend can be roughly predicted by the difference in charge delocalization between the parent compound and the product, which can be finely tuned by the presence of counter ions in solution.     

Regioselective synthesis and characterization of monovanadium‐substituted β‐octamolybdate [VMo7O26]5−

The monovanadium‐substituted polyoxometalate anion [VMo₇O₂₆]^5?, exhibiting a β‐octamolybdate archetype structure, was selectively prepared as pentapotassium [hexaikosaoxido(heptamolybdenumvanadium)]ate hexahydrate, K₅[VMo₇O₂₆]·6H₂O ( VMo₇ ), by oxidation of a reduced vanadomolybdate solution with hydrogen peroxide in a fast one‐pot approach. X‐ray structure analysis revealed that the V atom occupies a single position in the cluster that differs from the other positions by the presence of one doubly‐bonded O atom instead of two terminal oxide ligands in all other positions. The composition and structure of VMo₇ was also confirmed by elemental analyses and IR spectroscopy. The selectivity of the synthesis was inspected by a ⁵¹V NMR investigation which showed that this species bound about 95% of V^V in the crystallization solution. Upon dissolution of VMo₇ in aqueous solution, the [VMo₇O₂₆]^5? anion is substantially decomposed, mostly into [VMo₅O₁₉]^3?, α‐[VMo₇O₂₆]^4? and [V₂Mo₄O₁₉]^4?, depending on the pH.     

The [CH5NO]+ ˙ potential energy surface: Distonic ions,lon-dipole complexes and hydrogen-bridged radical cations

By combining results from a variety of mass spectrometric techniques (metastable ion, collisional activation, collision-induced dissociative ionization, neutralization-reionization spectrometry, ²H, ¹³C and ¹⁸O isotopic labelling and appearance energy measurements) and high-level ab initio molecular orbital calculations, the potential energy surface of the [CH₅NO]^{+ ˙} system has been explored. The calculations show that at least nine stable isomers exist. These include the conventional species [CH₃ONH₂]^{+ ˙} and [HO? CH₂? NH₂]^{+ ˙}, the distonic ions [O? CH₂? NH₃]^{+ ˙}, [O? NH₂? CH₃]^{+ ˙}, [CH₂? O(H)? NH₂]^{+ ˙}, [HO? NH₂? CH₂]^{+ ˙}, and the ion-dipole complex CH₂?NH₂⁺ …? OH˙. Surprisingly the distonic ion [CH₂? O? NH₃]^{+ ˙} was found not to be a stable species but to dissociate spontaneously to CH₂?O + NH₃^{+ ˙}. The most stable isomer is the hydrogen-bridged radical cation [H? C?O …? H …? NH₃]^{+ ˙} which is best viewed as an immonium cation interacting with the formyl dipole. The related species [CH₂?O …? H …? NH₂]^{+ ˙}, in which an ammonium radical cation interacts with the formaldehyde dipole is also a very stable ion. It is generated by loss of CO from ionized methyl carbamate, H₂N? C(?O)? OCH₃ and the proposed mechanism involves a 1,4-H shift followed by intramolecular ‘dictation’ and CO extrusion. The [CH₂?O …? H …? NH₂]^{+ ˙} product ions fragment exothermically, but via a barrier, to NH₄^{+ ˙} HCO^…? and to H₃N? C(H)?O^{+ ˙} H˙. Metastable ions [CH₃ONH₂]^+…? dissociate, via a large barrier, to CH₂?O + NH₃⁺ + and to [CH₂NH₂]⁺ + OH˙ but not to CH₂?O^{+ ˙} + NH₃. The former reaction proceeds via a 1,3-H shift after which dissociation takes place immediately. Loss of OH˙ proceeds formally via a 1,2-CH₃ shift to produce excited [O? NH₂? CH₃]^{+ ˙}, which rearranges to excited [HO? NH₂? CH₂]^{+ ˙} via a 1,3-H shift after which dissociation follows.     

Exploring the Effect of Surface Functionality on the Self‐Assembly of Polyoxopalladate Macroions

The solution behavior of the two polyoxo‐13‐palladates(II) ([Pd^II₁₃As^V₈O₃₄(OH)₆]^8? and [Pd^II₁₃(As^VPh)₈O₃₂]^6?) was studied in detail. We discovered that the countercation‐mediated attraction is the driving force for their self‐assembly into larger architectures. However, the presence of phenyl groups in the periphery of [Pd^II₁₃(As^VPh)₈O₃₂]^6? results in an enhanced attraction among these polyanions through hydrophobic interactions, which leads to completely different trends of assembly size for these two very similar clusters when decreasing solvent polarity. An increase of assembly size with increasing solvent polarity was observed for [Pd^II₁₃(As^VPh)₈O₃₂]^6?, whereas for [Pd^II₁₃As ^V₈O₃₄(OH)₆]^8? it was the opposite, due to the absence of hydrophobic interactions.     

Sind die ‚Lehrbuch-Anionen’︁ O2−, [CO3]2− und [SO4]2− Fiktionen?

Are the ‘Textbook Anions’ O^2?, [CO₃]^2?, and [SO₄]^2? Fictitious? Experimental second electron affinities are still unknown for the title anions. It will be shown by means of quantum chemical ab initio calculations that these dianions are unstable with respect to spontaneous ionization. They all must be designated as non-existent.     

High Nuclearity Antimonato‐Polyoxovanadate Cluster {V15Sb6O42} as a Synthon for the Solvothermal in situ Generation of α‐ and β‐{V14Sb8O42} Isomers

New heteroatom polyoxovanadates (POVs) were synthesized by applying a water‐soluble high‐nuclearity cluster as new synthon. The [V₁₅Sb₆O₄₂]^6? cluster shell exhibiting D₃ symmetry was in situ transformed into completely different cluster shells, namely, the α‐[V₁₄Sb₈O₄₂]^4? isomer with D_2d and the β‐[V₁₄Sb₈O₄₂]^4? isomer with D_2h symmetry. The solvothermal reaction of {Ni(en)₃}₃[V₁₅Sb₆O₄₂(H₂O)_x] ? 15 H₂O (x=0 or 1; en=ethylenediamine) in water led to the crystallization of [{Ni(en)₂}₂V₁₄Sb₈O₄₂] ? 5.5 H₂O containing the β‐isomer. The addition of [Ni(phen)₃](ClO₄)₂ ? 0.5 H₂O (phen=1,10‐phenanthroline) to the reaction slurry gave the new compound {Ni(phen)₃}₂[V₁₄Sb₈O₄₂] ? phen ? 12 H₂O with the α‐isomer. Both transformation reactions are complex due the change of symmetry, the chemical composition, and rearrangement of the VO₅ square pyramids and Sb₂O₅ handle‐like moieties.     

Thermal Ethane Activation by Bare [V2O5]+ and [Nb2O5]+ Cluster Cations: on the Origin of Their Different Reactivities

The gas‐phase reactivity of [V₂O₅]⁺ and [Nb₂O₅]⁺ towards ethane has been investigated by means of mass spectrometry and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The two metal oxides give rise to the formation of quite different reaction products; for example, the direct room‐temperature conversions C₂H₆→C₂H₅OH or C₂H₆→CH₃CHO are brought about solely by [V₂O₅]⁺. In distinct contrast, for the couple [Nb₂O₅]⁺/C₂H₆, one observes only single and double hydrogen‐atom abstraction from the hydrocarbon. DFT calculations reveal that different modes of attack in the initial phase of C?H bond activation together with quite different bond‐dissociation energies of the M?O bonds cause the rather varying reactivities of [V₂O₅]⁺ and [Nb₂O₅]⁺ towards ethane. The gas‐phase generation of acetaldehyde from ethane by bare [V₂O₅]⁺ may provide mechanistic insight in the related vanadium‐catalyzed large‐scale process.     

Electrochemical study of isopoly and heteropoly anion transfer across the water | nitrobenzene interface. Part II. Vanadium-containing heteropolytungstate anions

The electrochemical transfer behaviour of vanadium-containing heteropolytungstate anions [PW_12−xV_xO₄₀]^(3+x)− (x = 1−4) across the water | nitrobenzene interface has been investigated by cyclic voltammetry and chronopotentiometry with cyclic linear current scanning. The transfer of PW₁₁V₁O⁴⁻₄₀, HPW₁₀V₂O⁴⁻₄₀, H₂PW₁₀V₂O³⁻₄₀, H₃PW₉V₃O³⁻₄₀ and H₄PW₈V₄O³⁻₄₀ across the water | nitrobenzene interface can be observed within the potential window. The effects were observed of pH in the water phase on the transfer behaviour and the formation of vanadium-containing heteropolytungstate anions in solution. Heteropolytungstate anions become more stable due to their involving the vanadium atom. The degree of protonation and the dissociation constant of the trivalent vanadium-containing heteropolytungstate anion of protonation increase with increasing vanadium content. The transfer processes are diffusion-controlled. The standard transfer potential, the standard Gibbs energy and the dissociation constant for vanadium-containing heteropolytungstate anions have been obtained and the transfer mechanisms are discussed.     

1‐Oxa‐nido‐dodecaborate [OB11H12]− from the Controlled Oxidation of the closo‐Borates [B11H11]2− and [B12H12]2−

The closo‐dodecaborate [B₁₂H₁₂]^2? is degraded at room temperature by oxygen in an acidic aqueous solution in the course of several weeks to give B(OH)₃. The degradation is induced by Ag²⁺ ions, generated from Ag⁺ by the action of H₂S₂O₈. Oxa‐nido‐dodecaborate(1?) is an intermediate anion, that can be separated from the reaction mixture as [NBzlEt₃][OB₁₁H₁₂] after five days in a yield of 18 %. The action of FeCl₃ on the closo‐undecaborate [B₁₁H₁₁]^2? in an aqueous solution gives either [B₂₂H₂₂]^2? (by fusion) or nido‐B₁₁H₁₃(OH)^? (by protonation and hydration), depending on the concentration of FeCl₃. In acetonitrile, however, [B₁₁H₁₁]^2? is transformed into [OB₁₁H₁₂]^? by Fe³⁺ and oxygen. The radical anions [B₁₂H₁₂] ^{˙ ?} and [B₁₁H₁₁] ^{˙ ?} are assumed to be the primary products of the oxidation with the one‐electron oxidants Ag²⁺ and Fe³⁺, respectively. These radical anions are subsequently transformed into [OB₁₁H₁₂]^? by oxygen. The crystal structure analysis shows that the structure of [OB₁₁H₁₂]^? is derived from the hypothetical closo‐oxaborane OB₁₂H₁₂ by removal of the B3 vertex, leaving a non‐planar pentagonal aperture with a three‐coordinate O vertex, as predicted by NMR spectra and theory.     

Counter‐Intuitive Gas‐Phase Reactivities of [V2]+ and [V2O]+ towards CO2 Reduction: Insight from Electronic Structure Calculations

[V₂O]⁺ remains “invisible” in the thermal gas‐phase reaction of bare [V₂]⁺ with CO₂ giving rise to [V₂O₂]⁺; this is because the [V₂O]⁺ intermediate is being consumed more than 230 times faster than it is generated. However, the fleeting existence of [V₂O]⁺ and its involvement in the [V₂]⁺ → [V₂O₂]⁺ chemistry are demonstrated by a cross‐over labeling experiment with a 1:1 mixture of C¹⁶O₂/C¹⁸O₂, generating the product ions [V₂¹⁶O₂]⁺, [V₂¹⁶O¹⁸O]⁺, and [V₂¹⁸O₂]⁺ in a 1:2:1 ratio. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations help to understand the remarkable and unexpected reactivity differences of [V₂]⁺ versus [V₂O]⁺ towards CO₂.     

Gas‐Phase Reactions of Cationic Vanadium‐Phosphorus Oxide Clusters with C2Hx (x=4, 6): A DFT‐Based Analysis of Reactivity Patterns

The reactivities of the adamantane‐like heteronuclear vanadium‐phosphorus oxygen cluster ions [V_xP_4?xO₁₀]^.+ (x=0, 2–4) towards hydrocarbons strongly depend on the V/P ratio of the clusters. Possible mechanisms for the gas‐phase reactions of these heteronuclear cations with ethene and ethane have been elucidated by means of DFT‐based calculations; homolytic C? H bond activation constitutes the initial step, and for all systems the P? O^. unit of the clusters serves as the reactive site. More complex oxidation processes, such as oxygen‐atom transfer to, or oxidative dehydrogenation of the hydrocarbons require the presence of a vanadium atom to provide the electronic prerequisites which are necessary to bring about the 2e^? reduction of the cationic clusters.     

Towards the Accurate Calculation of 183W NMR Chemical Shifts in Polyoxometalates: The Relevance of the Structure

DFT calculations were carried out to study ¹⁸³W NMR chemical shifts in the family of the Keggin anions with formula α‐[XW₁₂O₄₀]^q? (X=B, Al, Si, P, Ga, Ge, As, Zn), in the β‐ and γ‐[SiW₁₂O₄₀]^4? geometric isomers, in the derivative Dawson anion [P₂W₁₈O₆₂]^6?, and in the most symmetrical Lindqvist [W₆O₁₉]^2? anion and its derivative [W₁₀O₃₂]^4?. In this article, we show that the geometry employed in the calculation of NMR chemical shifts in polyoxotungstates is extremely important if we want to be quantitative. Using very large basis sets of QZ4P quality and taking into account the conductor‐like screening model (COSMO) to account for solvent effects (aqueous and organic solutions), good geometries were found for the polyoxoanions. From these optimal geometries the ¹⁸³W NMR chemical shifts were computed with the more standard basis sets of TZP quality and including spin–orbit corrections inside the zero‐order regular approximation (ZORA) to describe the relativistic effects of the internal electrons. With this strategy the mean absolute error between experimental and theoretical values was found to be less than 10 ppm, which is similar to the experimental error. We also discuss how the geometry of the polyoxoanion influences on the shielding.     

Activation-controlled outer-sphere electron transfer reactions: reduction of heteropoly 11-tungstovanadophosphate and heteropoly 10-tungstodivanado phosphate by thiourea in aqueous acid medium

The kinetics of reduction of heteropoly 11-tungstovanadophosphate, [PV^VW₁₁O₄₀]⁴⁻, (HPA1) and heteropoly 10-tungstodivanadophosphate, [PV^VV^VW₁₀O₄₀]⁵⁻, (HPA2) by thiourea has been investigated in HClO₄/phthalate/acetate buffer solutions spectrophotometrically at 25 °C in aqueous medium. The stoichiometry of the reaction is 1:1 in both cases. The HPAs are converted into the corresponding one-electron reduced heteropoly blues, namely, [PV^IVW₁₁O₄₀]⁵⁻ and [PV^IVV^VW₁₀O₄₀]⁶⁻, and thiourea is oxidised to formamidine disulphide. The reaction shows first-order dependence in both [HPA] and [thiourea] at constant pH. The rate–pH profile shows the participation of both the neutral and deprotonated forms of thiourea in the reaction. The reaction proceeds through an outer sphere electron transfer mechanism in which activation-controlled electron transfer is the rate-determining step. Self-exchange rate constants for the couples [PV^VW₁₁O₄₀]⁴⁻/[PV^IVW₁₁O₄₀]⁵⁻, [PV^VV^VW₁₀O₄₀]⁵⁻/[PV^IVV^VW₁₀O₄₀]⁶⁻ and H₂NCSNH₂/H₂NCS^·+NH₂ have been evaluated by Marcus theory.     

Zur Konstitution von ‚KPbO2’︁

On the Constitution of ‘KPbO₂’ Transparent, orangered single crystals of K₂Pb₂O₄ have been obtained by heating mixtures of K₂O₂ and PbO (K:Pb = 1:1) [Ag-cylinders, 560°C, 40 d, after cooling (15°C/h)]. The space group is P1 , a = 1295.94(9), b = 753.35(7), c = 697.12(8) pm, α = 118.00(1)°, β = 106.15(1)°, γ = 93.44(1)°, Z = 4, d_x = 6.573 und d_pyk = 6.54 g · cm³. The structure is characterized by rutilanalogous chains of edge-connected [PbO₆] octahedra along [001] according to [PbO_4/2O_2/1] = PbO₄. On both sides of such a chain there are respectively three O^2?, which belong to two octahedra, alternating capped with Pb²⁺ or not capped, corresponding to [PbO₄]Pb₂[PbO₄]□₂… = Pb₂O₄. Those capped chains are held together by K(1)…K(4), each of them with C.N. 6. The order of the chains corresponds to the motive of a closest packing. The Madelung Part of Lattice Energy, MAPLE, Effective Coordination Numbers, ECoN, these via Mean Fictive Ionic Radii, MEFIR, are calculated and discussed.     

1‐Silacyclopent‐2‐enes and 1‐silacyclohex‐2‐enes bearing functionally substituted silyl groups in 2‐positions. Novel electron‐deficient Si?H?B bridges

The reactions of alkyn‐1‐yl(vinyl)silanes R₂Si[C?C‐Si(H)Me₂]CH?CH₂ [R = Me (1a), Ph (1b)], Me₂Si[C?C‐Si(Br)Me₂]CH?CH₂ (2a), and of alkyn‐1‐yl(allyl)silanes R₂Si[C?C‐Si(H)Me₂]CH₂CH?CH₂ (R = Me (3a), R = Ph (3b)] with 9‐borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane in a 1:1 ratio afford in high yield the 1‐silacyclopent‐2‐ene derivatives 4a, b and 5a, and the 1‐silacyclohex‐2‐ene derivatives 6a, b, respectively, all of which bear a functionally substituted silyl group in 2‐position and the boryl group in 3‐position. This is the result of selective intermolecular 1,2‐hydroboration of the vinyl or allyl group, followed by intramolecular 1,1‐organoboration of the alkynyl group. In the cases of 4a, b, potential electron‐deficient Si? H? B bridges are absent or extremely weak, whereas in 6a,b the existence of Si? H? B bridges is evident from the NMR spectroscopic data (¹H, ¹¹B, ¹³C and ²⁹Si NMR). The molecular structure of 4b was determined by X‐ray analysis. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Na(V3−xNbx)Nb6O14 – ein neues Oxoniobat mit [Nb6O12]- und [M2O9]-Clustern

Na(V_3?xNb_x)Nb₆O₁₄ — A Novel Oxoniobate with [Nb₆O₁₂] and [M₂O₉] Clusters Goldcolored single crystals and black powders of Na(V_3?xNb_x)Nb₆O₁₄ have been prepared by heating a pellet containing a mixture of NaNbO₃, NbO₂, NbO, VO₂ and NaF or Na₂B₄O₇ (as mineralizers) at 900°C in a sealed gold capsule. The analytically determined Nb : V ratio is 5 : 1 and means that x is about 1.5. The compound crystallizes in P6₃/m with a = 603.4(1), c = 1807.9(5) pm and Z = 3. The crystal structure can be described in terms of common close packing of sheets of O and Na atoms together with Nb₆ octahedra. Characteristic building groups of the new structure type are [Nb₆O₁₂] clusters, [M₂O₉] clusters and NbO₅ bipyramids. V atoms are distributed only on the positions of the Nb atoms within the trigonal bipyramids or the [M₂O₉] clusters. The [Nb₆O₁₂] clusters show characteristicaly short distances d_Nb-Nb = 279.4 and 281.3 pm, respectively. In the [M₂O₉] units, which are built from two MO₆ octahedra that share a common face, V or Nb atoms form M–M dumbbells with d_M–M = 255.9 pm. The electronic structure is discussed using Extended Hückel calculations.     

Titanium‐Substituted Polyoxotantalate Clusters Exhibiting Wide pH Stabilities: [Ti2Ta8O28]8− and [Ti12Ta6O44]10−

Two new substituted polyoxotantalate clusters, [Ti₂Ta₈O₂₈]^8? and [Ti₁₂Ta₆O₄₄]^10?, considerably expand the pH range where tantalates persist in aqueous solution. The structures of [Ti₂Ta₈O₂₈]^8? and [Ti₁₂Ta₆O₄₄]^10? are reported as tetramethylammonium salts after synthesis at hydrothermal conditions in aqueous solution. These Ti‐substituted polyoxotantalate clusters have analogues among recently discovered niobates, but are slightly larger and more persistent in solution. Most importantly, they exhibit a much wider range of pH stability than the familiar hexatantalate cluster, which is the only other tantalate known to be stable at highly basic pH conditions. These molecules are kinetically stable to near‐neutral pH, making them excellent synthons for further development into materials and catalysts, and an significant advance in adapting tantalates for use in aqueous solutions.