Synthesis, Structural Investigation and Characterization of an α-Keggin-based Organic-Inorganic Hybrid, [Cu(BIIM)2]{[Cu(BIIM)2(H2O)][Cu(BIIM)2BW12O40]•3H2O}2 (BIIM=2,2′-Biimidazole)

An organic-inorganic hybrid based on the alpha-Keggin anion [BW12O40](5-), [Cu(BIIM)(2)]{[Cu(BIIM)(2)(H2O)][Cu(BIIM)(2)BW12O40]center dot 3H(2)O}(2) (BIIM = 2,2'-biimidazole) (1) was hydrothermally prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, IR and UV spectra. Compound 1 is composed of [Cu(BIIM)(2)](2+) and [Cu(BIIM)(2)(H2O)](2+) cations and a [Cu(BIIM)(2)BW12O40](3-) polyanion, in which the [BW12O40](5-) anion is decorated by one [Cu(BIIM)(2)](2+) cation through one terminal oxygen atom. These components are finally arranged through hydrogen bonds into a twodimensional network. Investigations of the intermolecular interactions by Hirshfeld surface and fingerprint plots indicate that besides the classical N-H center dot center dot center dot O hydrogen bonds, there are rare W-O(terminal)center dot center dot center dot pi(imidazole ring) interactions stabilizing the structure.