Self-assembly of a novel multicomponent polyoxometalate-based tetrahedral supercluster with high catalytic activity for thioether oxidation

Abstract

A glamorous polyoxometalate (POM)-based macromolecule containing a tetrahedral supercluster (Hbiz)₁₂[(P₂Co₂Mo^V₄O₈)₂(P₂Mo^V₂O₈)₄(Pb⊂P₆Co₂Mo^V₂Mo^VI₁₄O₇₃)₄]·ca.129H₂O (1) was in situ self-assembled from three novel components, [Pb⊂P₆Co₂Mo₁₆O₇₃]⁸⁻ (P₆Co₂Mo₁₆), [P₂Mo^V₂O₈]⁴⁺ (P₂Mo₂) and [P₂Co₂Mo^V₄O₈]¹⁸⁺ (P₂Co₂Mo₄), respectively. To our knowledge, 1 represents the first tetrahedral supercluster containing the basket-like POM structure. Besides, macromolecule 1 exhibits high catalytic activity and reusability for the oxidation of thioethers to sulfoxides.