A hybrid silicotungstate based on tri-coordination copper complex and Keggin type cluster with reactive oxygen species catalytic ability

Abstract A hybrid polyoxometalate based on binuclear copper complex and α-Keggin-type silicotungstate [Cu2(4,4′-bpy) (Phen)2][SiW12O40] (abbreviated as CSW) (4,4′-bpy = 4,4′-bipyridine; Phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) has been synthesized and structurally characterized by elemental analyses, X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), IR spectrum, X-ray photoelectron spectrum (XPS) and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Structural analysis shows that CSW is an ionic compound, in which the cation is a binuclear copper complex [Cu2(4,4′-bpy) (Phen)2]4+ and the anion is a α-Keggin-type silicotungstate [SiW12O40]4– cluster. Notably, the Cu ions in the [Cu2(4,4′-bpy) (Phen)2] exist in the form of tri-coordination, which the phenomenon is very rare in polyoxometalates. Moreover, CSW can catalyze the production of reactive oxygen species efficiently.