Reversible Dehydration in Polyoxometalate-Based Hybrid Compounds: A Study of Single-Crystal to Single-Crystal Transformations in Keggin-Type Germanotungstates Decorated with Copper(II) Complexes of Tetradentate N-Donor Ligands

Abstract

Hydrothermal reaction of the Keggin-type [α-GeW11O39]8– anion with copper(II) complexes of the tetradentate N-donor ligands N,N′-dimethyl-N,N′-bis-(pyridine-2-ylmethyl)-1,2-diaminoethane (bpmen) or N,N′-dimethyl-N,N′-bis-(pyridine-2-ylmethyl)-1,3-diaminopropane (bpmpn) results in three new hybrid compounds [Cu(bpmen)(H2O)][GeW12O40{Cu(bpmen)}]·3.5H2O (1), [GeW12O40{Cu(bpmpn)(H2O)}2]·3H2O (2), and [Cu(bpmpn)(H2O)][GeW12O40{Cu(bpmpn)}]·8H2O (3). All compounds have been characterized by elemental analyses and infrared spectroscopy, and their structures have been established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Both 1 and 3 contain monodecorated polyanions and additional complex cations, but their layered structures show noticeable differences. For 1, the polyanions are arranged in rows whose stacking generates intralamellar cavities where complex cations and lattice water molecules are hosted, whereas double-layers of hybrid anions pillared by the cations occupying the interlamellar space are observed for 3. In the case of 2, the packing of trans-didecorated clusters generates honeycomb-like metalorganic layers and perpendicular hexagonal channels where Keggin moieties are nested. A combination of thermogravimetric and variable temperature powder X-ray diffraction analyses show that dehydration of 1 and 2 results in thermally stable, crystalline phases. Dehydrations are fully reversible upon exposure to air and proceed via single-crystal to single-crystal transformations implying rupture/formation processes in the copper(II) bonding and consequent geometrical and conformational modifications in the complexes. Transformations have been followed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, allowing for the structures of the anhydrous phases [GeW12O40{Cu(bpmen)}2] (1a) and [GeW12O40{Cu(bpmpn)}2] (2a) to be determined. Dehydration of 1 into 1a with consequent formation of neutral, didecorated clusters does not result in the collapse of the intralamellar cavities but rather in an open-framework structure with slit-shaped micropores. Structural variations between 1 and 2 and their corresponding anhydrous phases are reflected in the electron paramagnetic resonance spectra.