Inorganic Chemistry, Vol.45, No.13, 5136-5144, 2006
Recognition of small polar molecules with an ionic crystal of alpha-Keggin-type polyoxometalate with a macrocation
The complexation of Keggin-type polyoxometalates [alpha-XW12O40](n-) (X = P, Si, B, Co), macrocation [Cr3O(OOCH)(6)( H2O)(3)](+), and alkali-metal ions forms ionic crystals of Na-2[Cr3O(OOCH)(6)(H2O)(3)][alpha-PW12O40] center dot 16H(2)O (1a), K-3[Cr3O( OOCH)(6)(H2O)(3)][alpha-SiW12O40] center dot 16H(2)O (2a), Rb-4[Cr3O(OOCH)(6)(H2O)(3)][alpha-BW12O40] center dot 16H(2)O (3a), and Cs-5[Cr3O(OOCH)(6)( H2O)(3)][alpha-CoW12O40] center dot 7.5H(2)O ( 4a). The space volumes of the ionic crystals decrease in the order of 1a > 2a > 3a > 4a. The water of crystallization in 1a - 3a is completely desorbed by evacuation at room temperature, while about 50% of the water of crystallization in 4a is desorbed. The respective 1a - 4a after evacuation at room temperature are denoted by 1b - 4b, which show the close packing of the constituent ions. The calculated cell volumes per formula decreased in the order of 1b > 2b > 3b > 4b, which would be related to the increase in n. Compound 1b sorbs various <= C5 polar organic molecules such as 1-butanol, valeronitrile, and methyl propionate. Compound 2b sorbs ethanol, acetonitrile, and methyl formate. Compound 3b sorbs water and methanol, and 4b sorbs only water. Thus, the ionic crystals can discriminate <= C5 polar organic molecules such as alcohols, nitriles, and esters by one methylene chain, and the decrease in n of [alpha-XW12O40](n-) enables the sorption of molecules with the longer methylene chain. The nature of the sorption properties of 1b - 4b can be explained by the lattice energy needed for the expansion of 1b - 4b. The selective sorption properties of 1b - 4b are successfully applied to the separation of mixtures of alcohols, nitriles, esters, and water.