Efficient preparation of functionalized hybrid organic/inorganic Wells-Dawson-type polyoxotungstates

Hybrid organic/inorganic Wells-Dawson polyoxotungstates have been prepared through addition of functionalized tricholorostannanes to lacunary alpha(2)- and alpha(1)-P(2)W(17)O(61)](10-). Coupling of amines and alcohols to polyoxotungstate platforms led to new structures in good yields. Coupling of chiral amines to the previously unknown organotin-substituted alpha(1) derivatives allowed the isolation of diastereomers, which feature in some cases split (1)H, (13)C, and (31)P NMR spectra. This is the first example of NMR observation of a single pair of diastereomers in the alpha(1)-Wells-Dawson series. It opens the way to potential resolution of those chiral polyoxotungstates.