Control of Structures and Sorption Properties of Ionic Crystals of A2[Cr3O(OOCC2H5)6(H2O)3]2[α-SiW12O40] (A = Na, K, Rb, NH4, Cs, TMA)

The complexation of Keggin-type polyoxometalate [alpha-SiW 12O 40] (4-), macrocation [Cr 3O(OOCC 2H 5) 6(H 2O) 3] (+), and monovalent cation A (+) forms ionic crystals of A 2[Cr 3O(OOCC 2H 5) 6(H 2O) 3] 2[alpha-SiW 12O 40]. nH 2O [A = Na ( 1a), K ( 2a), Rb ( 3a), NH 4 ( 4a), Cs ( 5a), and tetramethylammonium (TMA) ( 6a)]. Single crystal (1a- 4a and 6a) and powder (5a) X-ray analyses have shown that the ionic crystals possess 2D layers of polyoxometalates and macrocations. Compounds 2a- 5a had almost the same structure, while the layers in 1a and 6a stack in different ways. The structures and sorption properties of 2b- 5b are investigated in more detail. The interlayer distances of guest free phases 2b- 5b increase with the increase in the ionic radii of the monovalent cations, which reside between the layers. Compounds 2b- 5b possess hydrophobic and hydrophilic channels, which exist between the layers and through the layers, respectively. The volumes of the hydrophobic channels increase in the order of 2b < 3b approximately 4b < 5b, and those of the hydrophilic channels increase in the order of 2b < or = 3b < or = 4b < 5b. Single-crystal X-ray structure analyses of 2a- 4a have shown that the water of crystallization resides in the hydrophilic channel. It is probable that the water of crystallization in 5a resides in the hydrophilic channel in the same manner as those in 2a- 4a since 2a- 5a have almost the same structure. The water vapor sorption profiles of 2b- 5b are approximately reproduced by a linear driving force model. Therefore, water molecules sorbed in 2b- 5b probably reside in the hydrophilic channel. The n-propanol sorption profiles are reproduced by the summation of the linear driving force model, showing that two independent barriers exist in the n-propanol sorption. The in situ IR spectra of n-propanol sorbed showed the presence of two n-propanol species. These data show that n-propanol is sorbed into both hydrophilic and hydrophobic channels. Compound 5b sorbs halocarbons in the hydrophobic channel, while 2b- 4b exclude them.