Isolation of extendable transition metal incorporated polyoxometalate intermediates with structural control

Three discrete cobalt-substituted silicotungstates, [Co3(H2O)(B-beta-SiW9O34)(B-beta-SiW8O29(OH)2)]12- (1), [Co3(H2O)(B-alpha-SiW9O34)(B-beta-SiW8O31)]14- (2), and [Co9Cl2(OH)3(H2O)9(B-beta-SiW8O31)3]17- (3), have been synthesized using a synthetic approach involving Co(II) ions, the dilacunary [gamma-SiW10O36]8- polyanion and a bulky organic cation in basic media; all three compounds have been fully characterized and their position as structural intermediates in Co-containing silicotungstate chemistry is described.