Hexa- and dodecanuclear polyoxomolybdate cyclic compounds: application toward the facile synthesis of nanoparticles and film electrodeposition.

Two new compounds based on O(3)PCH(2)PO(3)(4-) ligands and {Mo(V)(2)O(4)} dimeric units have been synthesized and structurally characterized. The dodecanuclear Mo(V) polyoxomolybdate species in (NH(4))(18)[(Mo(V)(2)O(4))(6)(OH)(6)(O(3)PCH(2)PO(3))(6)] x 33 H(2)O (1) is a cyclohexane-like ring in a chair conformation with pseudo S(6) symmetry. In the solid state, the wheels align side by side, thus delimiting large rectangular voids. The hexanuclear anion in Na(8)[(Mo(V)(2)O(4))(3)(O(3)PCH(2)PO(3))(3)(CH(3)AsO(3))] x 19 H(2)O (2) has a triangular framework and encapsulates a methylarsenato ligand. (31)P NMR spectroscopic analysis revealed the stability of 2 in various aqueous media, whereas the stability of 1 depends on the nature of the cations present in solution. It has been evidenced that the transformation of 1 into 2 occurs in the presence of CH(3)AsO(3)(2-) ions. This behavior shows that 1 can be used as a new precursor for the synthesis of Mo(V)/diphosphonate systems. The two complexes were very efficient both as reductants of Pt and Pd metallic salts and as capping agents for the resulting Pt(0) and Pd(0) nanoparticles. The size of the obtained nanoparticles depends both on the nature of the polyoxometalate (POM; i.e., 1 or 2) and on the [metallic salt]/[POM] ratio. In all cases, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements have revealed the presence of Mo(VI) species that stabilize the nanoparticles and the absence of Mo(V) moieties. Diffuse-reflectance FTIR spectra of the Pt nanoparticles show that the capping Mo(VI) POMs are identical for both systems and contain the diphosphonato ligand. The colloidal solutions do not show any precipitate and the nanoparticles remain well-dispersed for several months. The electrochemical reduction of Mo(V) species was studied for 2. Cyclic voltammetry alone and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance coupled with cyclic voltammetry show the deposition of a film on the electrode surface during this reduction.