The synthesis and characterization of three organic-inorganic hybrids based on different transition metal complexes and {As8V14O42(H2O)} clusters

Three new arsenic-vanadium compounds, [As8V14O42(H2O)][Cu(2,2'-bpy)(2)] 4 (1) [As8V14O42(H2O)][Cu(1,10-Phen)(2)](4) (2) and [As8V14O42(H2O)][Ni(Biim) 3] 2 center dot 6H(2)O (3) (2,2'-bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, 1,10-Phen = 1,10-phenanthroline and Biim = 2,2'-biimidazole), have been prepared hydrothermally and characterized by IR, UV-Vis, XRD, XPS, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. X-ray crystallographic studies showed that compounds 1-3 are all based on the cluster anion [As8V14O42(H2O)]4-. However, the crystal structures of the three are thoroughly different. It is obvious that the transition metal complex building blocks are the vital factor for the packing structures of the three. We carefully discussed the influence of transition metal complex building blocks on the crystal structures. Also we analyzed the catalytic properties of the compounds and discussed the influence of the crystal structures of transition metal complexes on the catalytic properties.