Chain length effect in the functionalization of polyoxometalates with α,ω-alkyldiphosphonates

Altering the organic spacers in hybrid complexes of polyoxotungstates and long-chain α,ω-alkyldiphosphonates (Ln), by a single CH2 group (e.g.L6vs.L5), can steer the self-assembly processes into different paths. Even homologous hybrids of L5 and L4 have seen the spin ground states switch from S = 0 to S = 9 upon shortening the chain length (L5vs.L4).