Influence of steric and electronic properties of the defect site, lanthanide ionic radii, and solution conditions on the composition of lanthanide(III) alpha1-P2W17O6110- polyoxometalates.

This study identifies the principles that govern the formation and stability of Ln complexes of the (alpha(1)-P(2)W(17)O(61))(10-) isomer. The conditional stability constants for the stepwise formation equilibria, K(1cond) and K(2cond), determined by (31)P NMR spectroscopy, show that the high log K(1cond)/log K(2cond) ratio predicts the stabilization of the 1:1 Ln/ (alpha(1)-P(2)W(17)O(61))(10-) species. The value of log K(1cond) increases as the Ln series is traversed, consistent with the high charge/size requirement of the basic alpha(1) defect site. The conditional stability constants, K(2), are very low and are highly dependent on the countercations in the buffer. The source of the instability is understood from the crystal structures of the early-mid lanthanide analogues, where the close contact of the (alpha(1)-P(2)W(17)O(61))(10-) units result in severe steric encumbrance. The electronic properties of the alpha(1) defect along with the lanthanide ionic radii and countercation composition are important parameters that need to be considered for a rational synthesis of lanthanide polyoxometalates.

Lanthanide Complexes of the alpha-1 Isomer of the [P(2)W(17)O(61)](10-) Heteropolytungstate: Preparation, Stoichiometry, and Structural Characterization by (183)W and (31)P NMR Spectroscopy and Europium(III) Luminescence Spectroscopy.

The alpha-1 and alpha-2 [P(2)W(17)O(61)](10)(-) isomers, derivatives of the Wells-Dawson molecule, [alpha-P(2)W(18)O(62)](6)(-), may be useful ligands for stabilizing high-valent metal ions and lanthanides and actinides. However, the potential utility of the [alpha1-P(2)W(17)O(61)](10)(-) ligand has not been realized. Specifically, for the lanthanides, the stoichiometry, structure, and purity of the lanthanide complexes of the [alpha1-P(2)W(17)O(61)](10)(-) isomer are ambiguous. We have prepared lanthanide (Ln) complexes of the [alpha1-P(2)W(17)O(61)](10)(-) isomer in >/=98% isomeric purity, according to (31)P NMR data. (183)W NMR data clearly showed, for the first time, that the C(1) symmetry of the [alpha1-P(2)W(17)O(61)](10)(-) lanthanide complexes was maintained in solution. We determined the stoichiometry of the lanthanide complexes of the [alpha1-P(2)W(17)O(61)](10)(-) isomer in solution by two different methods: a complexometric titration method and excited state lifetime measurements and luminescence titrations for the europium(III) analogue. All experiments show a 1:1 Ln:[alpha1-P(2)W(17)O(61)](10)(-) ratio. The (31)P NMR data showed that the lanthanides with smaller ionic radii (higher charge-size ratio) form stable complexes, even surviving crystallization from hot water. On the other hand, the lanthanum analogues were not stable in solutions of high lithium content. The tetrabutylammonium salt of the [Lu(alpha1-P(2)W(17)O(61))](7)(-) complex showed >/=98% isomeric purity and the C(1) symmetry required for a derivative of [alpha1-P(2)W(17)O(61)](10)(-). Also the tetrabutylammonium cation stabilized the [Lu(alpha1-P(2)W(17)O(61))](7)(-) complex; a mixed tetrabutylammonium, lithium salt was stable in water for weeks according to (31)P NMR spectroscopy.