Rational addition of capping groups to the phosphomolybdate Keggin anion [PMo12O40](3-) by mild, non-aqueous reductive aggregation.

Controlled reductive assembly of capped Keggin anions [PMo(12)O(40)(ML(m))(n)](3-) has been achieved by reduction of [PMo(12)O(40)](3-) with sodium-mercury amalgam in the presence of metal halides, as exemplified by the rational syntheses of mono-capped [PMo(12)O(40){Co(MeCN)(2)}](3-) and bi-capped [PMo(12)O(40)(VO)(2)](3-) and [PMo(12)O(40)Sb(2)](3-).

Protonolysis of [((i)PrO)TiMo5O18]3-: access to a family of TiMo5 Lindqvist type polyoxometalates.

The tetra-n-butylammonium (TBA) salts of [((i)PrO)TiMo(5)O(18)](3-) 1 and [((i)BuO)TiMo(5)O(18)](3-) 2 were prepared by hydrolysis of mixtures of (TBA)(2)[Mo(2)O(7)], (TBA)(4)α-[Mo(8)O(26)] and Ti(OR)(4) (R = (i)Pr or (i)Bu) in acetonitrile. Treatment of (TBA)(3)1 with alcohols ROH afforded primary and tertiary alkoxide derivatives [(RO)TiMo(5)O(18)](3-) (R = Me 3, (t)Bu 4), whilst aryloxides [(ArO)TiMo(5)O(18)](3-) were prepared by reacting 1 with phenols ArOH (Ar = C(6)H(4)Me-4 5, and C(6)H(4)CHO-2 6). Oxo-bridged [(µ-O)(TiMo(5)O(18))(2)](6-)7 rather than the hydroxo derivative [(HO)TiMo(5)O(18)](3-) was obtained upon hydrolysis of 1. X-Ray crystal structures of TBA salts of anions 3-7 show that titanium is six-coordinate in all cases, although titanium sites are disordered over two trans positions in 3. Mo-O bond length alternation is observed in the Mo(4)O(4) planes of 4 and 7 and in one of the two independent anions in the structure of 3. In solution, (17)O NMR spectra are consistent with the higher anionic charge compared to [Mo(6)O(19)](2-) and reveal an order of basicity for the anions [LM'Mo(5)O(18)](3-) associated with the ability of {LM'}(3+) to donate/withdraw electron density from {Mo(5)O(18)}(6-). Protonolysis reactions of 1 and 3 were slower than for tungstate analogues and the possibility of initial protonation at TiOM (M = Mo) rather than TiOR (M = W) in a proton-assisted S(N)1 mechanism for ligand exchange in [(RO)TiM(5)O(18)](3-) is discussed.

Non-aqueous synthetic methodology for TiW(5) polyoxometalates: protonolysis of [(MeO)TiW(5)O(18)](3-) with alcohols, water and phenols.

The tetra-n-butylammonium (TBA) salt of [(MeO)TiW(5)O(18)](3-) 1 was reacted with alcohols ROH to give primary, secondary and tertiary alkoxide derivatives [(RO)TiW(5)O(18)](3-) (R = Et 2, (i)Pr 3 and (t)Bu 4), whilst hydrolysis afforded [(mu-O)(TiW(5)O(18))(2)](6-) 5 rather than the hydroxo derivative (R = H). In reactions with (i)PrOH and (t)BuOH, impurity peaks observed at 1015 and 1020 ppm in the (17)O NMR spectra indicate alkoxide degradation and Ti=O bond formation via reactions analogous to those occurring at the surfaces of solid heteropolyacids. Aryloxides [(ArO)TiW(5)O(18)](3-) were prepared by reacting 1 with phenols ArOH (Ar = C(6)H(5) 6, C(6)H(4)Me-4 7, C(6)H(4)(t)Bu-4 8, C(6)H(4)OH-4 9, C(6)H(4)OH-3 10, C(6)H(3)(OH)(2)-3,5 11 and C(6)H(4)CHO-2 13). TiW(5)O(18) units were linked by reacting 1 with 9 to give [(mu-1,4-OC(6)H(4)O)(TiW(5)O(18))(2)](6-) 12. (17)O and (183)W NMR spectra are reported and X-ray crystal structures were obtained for TBA salts of anions 3-10 and 13, which showed that the titanium is six-coordinate in all cases. Reactions were monitored by (1)H NMR, including a 2D-EXSY study of methoxo exchange, and the slow rates observed are probably associated with the reluctance of titanium in these anions to achieve seven-coordination.

Synthesis and reactivity of the methoxozirconium pentatungstate (nBu4N)6[{(mu-MeO)ZrW5O18}2]: insights into proton-transfer reactions, solution dynamics, and assembly of {ZrW5O18}2- building blocks.

The methoxo-bridged, dimeric, ZrIV-substituted Lindqvist-type polyoxometalate (POM) (nBu4N)6[{(mu-MeO)ZrW5O18}2], (TBA)61, has been synthesized by stoichiometric hydrolysis of Zr(OnPr)4, [{Zr(OiPr)3(mu-OnPr)(iPrOH)}2], or [{Zr(OiPr)4(iPrOH)}2] and [{WO(OMe)4}2] in the presence of (nBu4N)2WO4, providing access to the systematic nonaqueous chemistry of ZrW5 POMs for the first time and an efficient route to 17O-enriched samples for 17O NMR studies. 1H NMR provided no evidence for dissociation of 1 in solution, although exchange with MeOH was shown to be slow by an EXSY study. Reactions with HX at elevated temperatures gave a range of anions [{XZrW5O18}n]3n- (X = OH, 3; OPh, 4; OC6H4Me-4, 5; OC6H4(CHO)-2, 6; acac, 7; OAc, 8), where n = 2 for 3 and n = 1 for 4-8, while 1H and 17O NMR studies of hydrolysis of 1 revealed the formation of an intermediate [(mu-MeO)(mu-HO)(ZrW5O18)2]6-. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry of 1 and 3 illustrated the robust nature of the ZrW5O18 framework, and X-ray crystal structure determinations showed that steric interactions between ligands X and the ZrW5O18 surface are important. The coordination number of Zr is restricted to six in aryloxides 4 and 5, while seven-coordination is achieved in the chelate complexes 6-8. Given the inert nature of the methoxo bridges in 1, protonation of ZrOW sites is proposed as a possible step in reactions with HX. The diphenylphosphinate ligand in [(Ph2PO2)ZrW5O18]3- was found to be labile and upon attempted recrystallization the aggregate [(mu3-HO)2(ZrW5O18)3H]7- 9 was formed, which was found to be protonated at ZrOZr and ZrOW sites. This work demonstrates the flexibility of the {ZrW5O18}2- core as a molecular platform for modeling catalysis by tungstated zirconia surfaces.

Anatase--a pigment in ancient artwork or a modern usurper?

Fragments of wall-paintings from Roman villas in Easton Maudit, which date from ca 150 AD have been studied by Raman spectroscopy. An intact ancient Roman paint pot discovered in the remains of a villa in Castor, Cambridgeshire, still containing a mixture of white and red pigment was also analysed and the pigments identified as haematite and anatase. The discovery of anatase in the intact artist's paint pot, particularly, and also on fragments of broken paint pots from the Easton Maudit villa site, is a unique contribution to current knowledge of ancient European pigment history, because the presence of this mineral has not hitherto been recognised fully in an ancient artist's palette. The relative spectral response of anatase and haematite in the Raman data is compared with that of anatase and other red pigments such as minium, cinnabar, and litharge.

Caput mortuum: spectroscopic and structural studies of an ancient pigment.

The use of a pigment variously described as caput mortuum, usta or ostrum to provide a deep purple colour in ancient wall-paintings was highly prized, despite the technical difficulties associated with its application. With the Raman spectroscopic characterization of pigments in ancient frescoes and wall-paintings becoming more widespread, it is timely to consider the identification of this material either as a generic haematite alone or in admixture with contemporary blue pigments. Here, Raman and infrared spectroscopic, X-ray diffractometric and scanning electron microscopic structural studies have been undertaken to characterize caput mortuum and to identify a specimen of Roman wall-painting dating from the 3rd century.