Keywords: Heteropolyanions / Dawson-type structures / Molybdenum / Transition metal cations / Electrocatalysis Stereospecific routes were followed to synthesize five new Fe 3+ and Cu 2+ -substituted Mo-enriched Dawson-type heteropolyanions as aqueous soluble potassium salts: α 2 -K 7 [Fe(OH 2 )P 2 W 12 Mo 5 O 61 ] and α 2 -K 7 [Fe(OH 2 )P 2 W 13 Mo 4 O 61 ], α 1 -and α 2 -K 8 [Cu(OH 2 )P 2 W 12 Mo 5 O 61 ] and α 2 -K 8 [Cu(OH 2 )-P 2 W 13 Mo 4 O 61 ]. The substituted species as well as their immediate lacunary precursors were characterized by IR, UV/