Three Cobalt(II)‐Linked {P8W48} Network Assemblies: Syntheses,Structures, and Magnetic and Photocatalysis Properties

Three cobalt(II)‐containing tungstophosphate compounds, Na₈Li₈Co₅[Co_5.5(H₂O)₁₉P₈W_48.5O₁₈₄] ? 60 H₂O ( 1 ), K₂Na₄Li₁₁Co₅[Co₇(H₂O)₂₈P₈W₄₈O₁₈₄]Cl ? 59 H₂O ( 2 ), and K₂Na₄LiCo₁₁[Co₈(H₂O)₃₂P₈W₄₈O₁₈₄](CH₃COO)₄Cl ? 47 H₂O ( 3 ), have been synthesized and characterized by IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, elemental analyses, and magnetic measurements. The pH value impacts the formation of distinct cobalt‐linked frameworks. The cyclic cavity of the polyanion accommodates 5.5, 7, and 8 cobalt ions in 1 , 2 , and 3 , respectively. In compounds 1 and 2 , each {Co_5.5P₈W₄₈} and {Co₇P₈W₄₈} fragment links to four others through multiple {Co‐O‐W} coordination bonds to generate a two‐dimensional network. Compound 3 can be considered as a 3D network based on the {Co‐O‐W} coordination bonds and the {Co₃(CH₃COO)₂(H₂O)₁₀} linkers between the {P₈W₄₈} fragments. Interestingly, acetate ligands have been employed to form the {Co₃(CH₃COO)₂(H₂O)₁₀} unit, thereby inducing the construction of a 12‐connected framework. To the best of our knowledge, compound 3 contains the largest‐ever number of cobalt ions in a {P₈W₄₈}‐based polyoxometalate when counterions are taken into account and the {P₈W₄₈} unit shows the highest number of connections thanks to the carboxyl bridges. The UV/Vis diffuse reflectance spectra of these powder samples indicate that the corresponding well‐defined optical absorption associated with E_g can be assessed at 2.58, 2.48, and 2.73 eV and reveal the presence of an optical band gap. The photocatalytic H₂ evolution activities of these {P₈W₄₈}‐based compounds are evaluated.     

Porous Capsules with a Large Number of Active Sites: Nucleation/Growth under Confined Conditions

This work deals with the generation of large numbers of active sites and with ensuing nucleation/ growth processes on the inside wall of the cavity of porous nanocapsules of the type (pentagon)₁₂(linker)₃₀≡{(Mo^VI)Mo^VI₅}₁₂{Mo^V₂(ligand)}₃₀. A first example refers to sulfur dioxide capture through displacement of acetate ligands, while the grafted sulfite ligands are able to trap {MoO₃H}⁺ units thereby forming unusual {(O₂SO)₃MoO₃H}^5? assemblies. A second example relates to the generation of open coordination sites through release of carbon dioxide upon mild acidification of a carbonate‐type capsule. When the reaction is performed in the presence of heptamolybdate ions, MoO₄^2? ions enter the cavity where they bind to the inside wall while forming new types of polyoxomolybdate architectures, thereby extending the molybdenum oxide skeleton of the capsule. Parallels can be drawn with Mo‐storage proteins and supported MoO₃ catalysts, making the results relevant to molybdenum biochemistry and to catalysis.     

Assembly and Purification of Enzyme‐Functionalized DNA Origami Structures

The positioning of enzymes on DNA nanostructures for the study of spatial effects in interacting biomolecular assemblies requires chemically mild immobilization procedures as well as efficient means for separating unbound proteins from the assembled constructs. We herein report the exploitation of free‐flow electrophoresis (FFE) for the purification of DNA origami structures decorated with biotechnologically relevant recombinant enzymes: the S‐selective NADP⁺/NADPH‐dependent oxidoreductase Gre2 from S. Cerevisiae and the reductase domain of the monooxygenase P450 BM3 from B. megaterium. The enzymes were fused with orthogonal tags to facilitate site‐selective immobilization. FFE purification yielded enzyme–origami constructs whose specific activity was quantitatively analyzed. All origami‐tethered enzymes were significantly more active than the free enzymes, thereby suggesting a protective influence of the large, highly charged DNA nanostructure on the stability of the proteins.     

Assembly of Cerium(III)‐Stabilized Polyoxotungstate Nanoclusters with SeO32−/TeO32− Templates: From Single Polyoxoanions to Inorganic Hollow Spheres in Dilute Solution

A versatile one‐pot strategy was employed to synthesize three cerium(III)‐stabilized polyoxotungstates nanoclusters by combining cerium linkers and SeO₃^2?/TeO₃^2? heteroanion templates: K₃₂Na₁₆[{(XO₃)W₁₀O₃₄}₈{Ce₈(H₂O)₂₀}(WO₂)₄‐ (W₄O₁₂)] ? n H₂O [X=Se, n=81 ( 1 ); X=Te, n=114 ( 2 )] and K₁₂Na₂₂[{(SeO₃)W₁₀O₃₄}₈{Ce₈(H₂O)₂₀}(WO₂)₄‐ {(W₄O₆)Ce₄(H₂O)₁₄(SeO₃)₄(NO₃)₂}] ? 79 H₂O ( 3 ), which are the first lanthanide‐containing polyoxotungstates with selenium or tellurium heteroatoms. The three clusters were characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray structure analysis, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis, UV/Vis spectroscopy, ESI‐MS, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Their electrochemical, photoluminescence, and magnetic properties were investigated. Their behavior in solution was studied by transmission electron microscopy, which showed that their single polyoxoanions assemble into intact, uniform‐sized, purely inorganic hollow spheres in dilute water/acetone solution.     

Supramolecular Structures of Titanium(IV)‐Substituted Wells–Dawson Polyoxotungstates

The novel, dimeric titanium(IV )‐substituted phosphotungstate [(TiP₂W₁₅O₅₅OH)₂]^14? ( 1 ) has been synthesized and characterized by IR and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and single‐crystal Xray diffraction. The polyanion consists of two [P₂W₁₅O₅₆]^12? Wells–Dawson moieties linked through two titanium(IV ) centers. Polyanion 1 is a dilacunary species and represents the first Ti‐containing sandwich‐type structure. The titanium centers are octahedrally coordinated by three oxygen atoms of each P₂W₁₅O₅₆ subunit. The edge‐shared TiO₆ units are symmetrically equivalent and have no terminal ligands. Polyanion 1 shows a chiral distortion within each P₂W₁₅Ti fragment. We also report on the structural characterization of the tetrameric, supramolecular species [{Ti₃P₂W₁₅O_57.5(OH)₃}₄]^24? ( 2 ). Polyanion 2 is composed of four equivalent P₂W₁₅Ti₃ fragments, fused together through terminal Ti? O bonds, leading to a structure with T_d symmetry.     

Self-assembly of nanosized 0D clusters: CdS quantum dot-polyoxotungstate nanohybrids with strongly coupled electronic structures and visible-light-active photofunctions

Nanohybrids of CdS–polyoxotungstate with strongly coupled electronic structures and visible‐light‐active photofunctions can be synthesized by electrostatically derived self‐assembly of very small CdS quantum dots, or QDs, (particle size≈2.5 nm) and polyoxotungstate nanoclusters (cluster size≈1 nm). The formation of CdS–polyoxotungstate nanohybrids is confirmed by high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, elemental mapping, and powder X‐ray diffraction analysis. Due to the strong electronic coupling between two semiconductors, the CdS–polyoxotungstate nanohybrids show a narrow bandgap energy of around 1.9–2.7 eV, thus reflecting their ability to harvest visible light. Time‐resolved photoluminescence experiments indicate that the self‐assembly between nanosized CdS and polyoxotungstate is very effective in increasing the lifetime of holes and electrons, thus indicating an efficient electron transfer between two‐component semiconductors. The hybridization results not only in a significant improvement in the photostability of CdS QD but also in the creation of visible‐light‐induced photochromism. Of particular importance is that the present nanohybrids show visible‐light‐driven photocatalytic activity to produce H₂ and O₂, which is superior to those of the unhybridized CdS and polyoxotungstate. The self‐assembly of nanometer‐level semiconductor clusters can provide a powerful way of optimizing the photoinduced functionalities of each component (i.e., visible‐induced photochromism and photocatalysis) by means of strong electronic coupling.     

A Unique Fluoride Nanocontainer: Porous Molecular Capsules Can Accommodate an Unusually High Number of “Rather Labile” Fluoride Anions

The present work refers to the challenging issue of fluoride anion recognition/binding in water by taking advantage of the unique possibilities offered by the porous molecular nanocontainers of the {Mo₁₃₂} Keplerate type allowing the study of a variety of new phenomena. Reaction of the highly reactive carbonate‐type capsule with aqueous HF results in the release of carbon dioxide and integration of an unprecedentedly large number of fluoride anions—partly as coordinated ligands at both the pentagonal units and the linkers, partly as a disordered water/fluoride assembly inside the cavity. The internal assembly and some of the fluoride ligands are easily released, which provides interesting options for future studies regarding coordination chemistry and catalysis under confined conditions.