Preparation and properties of the mixed trinuclear molybdenum–tungsten cluster ‘aqua ion’; [WMo2(µ3-O)(µ2-O)3(OH2)9]4+

Abstract

Reaction of K₂[MoCl₆](or MoCl₄) with K₂[WCl₆] in HCI (2 M) at 80 °C for 1 h has led to the isolation and characterisation of the first hetero Mo–W trinuclear cluster ‘qua ion’; [WMo₂(µ₃-O)(µ₂-O)₃(OH₂)₉]⁴⁺; subsequent solution studies have shown that both redox properties and water substitution rates at the two molybdenum centres are significantly influenced by the presence of the remote tungsten atom.