Two structurally intriguing Ru-containing isopolyoxometalates
[(Ru(OH))2O(W5O18)2]8– (1) and [(W5O18)(Ru2W8O31)]12– (2) were constructed from subtly different conditions.
Single-crystal
X-ray diffraction indicated that the precise pH modification has allowed
us to trap a diruthenium-oxo core within different isopolyoxotungstate
species. Compound 1 is the first sandwich-type ruthenium
isopolyoxotungstate consisting of a linear {(HO)Ru–O–Ru(OH)}
unit and two Lindqvist-type {W5} building blocks, while
a ligand replacement of {W5} with an unusual {W8} ring in the case of compound 1 produced a unique embedded-type
compound 2 with a quasi-linear {Ru–O–Ru}
core. In addition to being determined in the solid state, crystal
structures of 1 and 2 were also confirmed
by 183W nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and
electrospray ionization–mass spectrometry (ESI–MS) in
solution. 183W NMR spectrum demonstrated that the two-line
pattern of 1 (with approximately 4:1 relative intensities)
is consistent with the pseudo-D
2h
symmetry observed in the solid state. However, two other lines
were observed in 2 according to the C
2v
symmetry but not in accord with the
expected 4/4/4/1 ratio in the crystalline state, which indicated that
the structure of 2 could not be maintained completely
in aqueous solution. After recrystallizing the solid sample of 2 in water, the crystal structure of 2 partly
converted to the structure of 1, and the transformation
was determined by the combined results of 183W NMR, ESI–MS
and single-crystal X-ray diffraction measurements. Catalytic investigations
showed that their sodium salts presented excellent photocatalytic
activities toward the benzylamine oxidation reaction induced by visible
light (λ > 400 nm). The structures of the two compounds can
still be maintained without a significant yield decrease after five
continuous reaction cycles. Furthermore, both catalysts 1 and 2 could proceed with the oxidative coupling reaction
smoothly for most of the primary benzylamine derivatives bearing various
functional groups (H, F, Cl, Br, and Me) in good to excellent yields.