Issue 12, 2021

Physicochemical implications of surface alkylation of high-valent, Lindqvist-type polyoxovanadate-alkoxide clusters

Abstract

We report a rare example of the direct alkylation of the surface of a plenary polyoxometalate cluster by leveraging the increased nucleophilicity of vanadium oxide assemblies. Addition of methyl trifluoromethylsulfonate (MeOTf) to the parent polyoxovanadate cluster, [V6O13(TRIOLR)2]2− (TRIOL = tris(hydroxymethyl)methane; R = Me, NO2) results in functionalisation of one or two bridging oxide ligands of the cluster core to generate [V6O12(OMe)(TRIOLR)2]1− and [V6O11(OMe)2(TRIOLR)2]2−, respectively. Comparison of the electronic absorption spectra of the functionalised and unfunctionalised derivatives indicates the decreased overall charge of the complex results in a decrease in the energy required for ligand to metal charge transfer events to occur, while simultaneously mitigating the inductive effects imposed by the capping TRIOL ligand. Electrochemical analysis of the family of organofunctionalised polyoxovanadate clusters reveals the relationship of ligand environment and the redox properties of the cluster core: increased organofunctionalisation of the surface of the vanadium oxide assembly translates to anodic shifts in the reduction events of the Lindqvist ion. Overall, this work provides insight into the electronic effects induced upon atomically precise modifications to the surface structure of nanoscopic, redox-active metal oxide assemblies.

Graphical abstract: Physicochemical implications of surface alkylation of high-valent, Lindqvist-type polyoxovanadate-alkoxide clusters

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
30 12 2020
Accepted
05 3 2021
First published
11 3 2021

Nanoscale, 2021,13, 6162-6173

Author version available

Physicochemical implications of surface alkylation of high-valent, Lindqvist-type polyoxovanadate-alkoxide clusters

A. A. Fertig, S. M. G. Rabbani, M. D. Koch, W. W. Brennessel, P. Miró and E. M. Matson, Nanoscale, 2021, 13, 6162 DOI: 10.1039/D0NR09201K

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