Two α-metatungstate compounds containing supramolecular helical chains

[Co(bipy)(3)](3)[{Co(bipy)(2)(H(2)O)}(2){H(3)W(12)O(40)}(2)]center dot H(2)O(1) and [H(2)bipy](0.5)[{Cu(bipy)(2)}(2){H(3)W(12)O(40)}]center dot H(2)O (2) (bipy = 2,2'-pyridine) have been hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analyses, IR spectra, and TG analyses. In 1, there exist supramolecular left/right-helical chains constructed by [Co1(bipy)(3)](2+) and these chains perpendicularly interact with a series of parallel POM double-chains composed of [{Co(bipy)(2)(H(2)O)}(2){H(3)W(12)O(40)}(2)](6-) anions and [Co2(bipy)(3)](2+) cations forming a 3-D supramolecular network. In 2, there also exist supramolecular left-/right-helical chains constructed by [{Cu(bipy)(2)}(2){H(3)W(12)O(40)}](-) fragments. Furthermore, these left-/right-helical chains are linked together via H-bonds forming interesting enantiomorphous chiral layers. Electrochemical properties of these compounds have been studied.