Conventional wisdom maintains that β isomers of fully oxidized Keggin heteropolytungstates, [X n +WVI 12O40](8- n )- (X = main-group or transition-metal cation), are unstable with respect to α structures such that isomeric rearrangements all occur in the direction β → α. Contrary to this view, equilibria between α and β forms of the Keggin anion [AlIIIW12O40]5- (α- and β-1) have now been observed. Moreover, a trend in kinetic and thermodynamic stabilities of β isomers in the order X = Al(III) > Si(IV) > P(V) has been established, and the difference in energy between α and β isomers (α- and β-1) has been quantified for the first time. Mild acid condensation of WO4 2-, followed by addition of Al(III), gave [Al(AlOH2)W11O39]6- (2)three β-isomer derivatives, β1 (C s symmetry), β2 (C 1), and β3 (C s ), with the α derivative (C s ) a minor productin nearly quantitative yield by 27Al NMR spectroscopy. Acidification of the reaction mixture to pH 0 and refluxing cleanly converted 2 to H5[AlIIIW12O40] (1)mostly β-1 (yellow, C 3 v ), with α-1 (white, T d ) a minor product. Samples of each isomer were isolated by fractional crystallization and characterized by 27Al and 183W NMR, IR, and UV−vis spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The Al−O bond length in the T d AlO4 group at the center of α-1 (hydrated potassium salt of α-1; final R 1 = 3.42%) establishes a trend in X−O bond lengths in the [X n +O4](8- n )- groups of α-Keggin anions of 1.74(1), 1.64(2), and 1.53(1) Å, respectively, for X = Al(III), Si(IV), and P(V). Equilibria between isomers of 1 were observed by heating separate 0.1 M aqueous solutions of either pure α or β anions under identical conditions. The progress of the reaction was measured, and the relative concentrations of the α and β isomers present at equilibrium were determined by 27Al NMR spectroscopy. First-order rate constants for approach to equilibrium of α- and β-1 at 473 K were k 1( α → β ) = 7.68 × 10-7 s-1 and k - 1( β → α ) = 6.97 × 10-6 s-1. The equilibrium ratio of β-1 to α-1 (k 1/k - 1) was K eq(473   K,  0.1   M   1 ) = 0.11 ± 0.01. From ΔG = −RT ln K eq, α-1 is more stable than β-1 by 2.1 ± 0.5 kcal mol-1. Controlled hydrolysis of α-1 gave the monolacunary derivative α-Na9[AlW11O39] (α-3; C s ); hydrolysis of β-1 gave β2-3 (C 1) as the major product. Thermal equilibration of the lacunary Keggin heteropolytungstates could also be achieved:  Independently heated solutions of either α-3 or β2-3 (0.13 M of either isomer in D2O at 333 K; natural pH values of ca. 7) both gave solutions containing α-3 (60%) and a single β-3 isomer of C s symmetry (40%). Using K eq = 1.5, the two isomers differ in energy by 0.3 kcal mol-1.

Although many enzymes can readily and selectively use oxygen in water-the most familiar and attractive of all oxidants and solvents, respectively-the design of synthetic catalysts for selective water-based oxidation processes utilizing molecular oxygen remains a daunting task. Particularly problematic is the fact that oxidation of substrates by O2 involves radical chemistry, which is intrinsically non-selective and difficult to control. In addition, metallo-organic catalysts are inherently susceptible to degradation by oxygen-based radicals, while their transition-metal-ion active sites often react with water to give insoluble, and thus inactive, oxides or hydroxides. Furthermore, pH control is often required to avoid acid or base degradation of organic substrates or products. Unlike metallo-organic catalysts, polyoxometalate anions are oxidatively stable and are reversible oxidants for use with O2 (refs 8,9,10). Here we show how thermodynamically controlled self-assembly of an equilibrated ensemble of polyoxometalates, with the heteropolytungstate anion [AIVVW11O40]6- as its main component, imparts both stability in water and internal pH-management. Designed to operate at near-neutral pH, this system facilitates a two-step O2-based process for the selective delignification of wood (lignocellulose) fibres. By directly monitoring the central Al atom, we show that equilibration reactions typical of polyoxometalate anions keep the pH of the system near 7 during both process steps.

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Trends in the stability of alpha- and beta-Keggin heteropolytungstates of the second-row main-group heteroatoms Al(III), Si(IV), and P(V) are elaborated by data that establish the roles of kinetic and thermodynamic control in the formation and isomerization of Keggin tungstoaluminates. Slow, room-temperature co-condensation of Al(III) and W(VI) (2:11 molar ratio) in water gives a pH 7 solution containing beta(1) and beta(2) isomers of [Al(AlOH(2))W(11)O(39)](6)(-) (beta(1)- and beta(2)-1). Partial equilibration of this kinetic product mixture by gentle heating (2 h at 100 degrees C) or, alternatively, co-condensation of Al(III) and W(VI) for 2.5 h at 100 degrees C both give mixtures of beta(2)-, beta(3)-, and alpha-1. Full equilibration, by prolonged heating (25 days at 100 degrees C), gives an isomerically pure solution of alpha-1, thus demonstrating that isomerization occurs in the direction beta(1) --> beta(2) --> beta(3) --> alpha. Furthermore, kinetically controlled conversions of 1 to H(5)[AlW(12)O(40)] (2)-achieved by heating pH 0-0.2 solutions of 1 for 5 days at 100 degrees C-occur with retention of isomeric integrity, such that alpha-1 is converted to alpha-2 (92%; 8% beta), while mixtures of beta(2)- and beta(3)-1 are converted to beta-2 (87%; 13% alpha). These data, when combined with previously reported observations (equilibria between alpha- and beta-2, kinetically controlled hydrolyses of alpha-2 to alpha-[AlW(11)O(39)](9)(-) (alpha-3) and of beta-2 to beta(2)-3, and equilibria between beta(3)- and alpha-3), provide a comprehensive picture regarding the roles of kinetic and thermodynamic control. Finally, a general method for preparation of the isomerically pure derivatives alpha-K(9)(-)(n)()[AlM(n)()(+)W(11)O(39)] (4), M(n)()(+) = Al(III), [V(IV)O](2+), [V(V)O](3+), Mn(II), Mn(III), Mn(IV), Co(II), and Co(III), is provided. The presence of Mn(IV) is confirmed by cyclic voltammetry, pK(a) values of the aquo ligands on 4 are determined by pH titration, and the isomeric structure of these derivatives is established by (27)Al, (51)V, and (183)W NMR and IR spectroscopies and X-ray crystallography.

beta-[SiW(12)O(40)](4)(-) (C(3)(v) symmetry) is sufficiently higher in energy than its alpha-isomer analogue that effectively complete conversion to alpha-[SiW(12)O(40)](4)(-) (T(d)) is observed. By contrast, beta- and alpha-[AlW(12)O(40)](5)(-) (beta- and alpha-1; C(3)(v) and T(d), respectively) are sufficiently close in energy that both isomers are readily seen in (27)Al NMR spectra of equilibrated (alpha-beta) mixtures. Recently published DFT calculations ascribe the stability of beta-1 to an electronic effect of the large, electron-donating [AlO(4)](5)(-) (T(d)) moiety encapsulated within the polarizable, fixed-diameter beta-W(12)O(36) (C(3)(v)) shell. Hence, no unique structural distortion of beta-1 is needed or invoked to explain its unprecedented stability. The results of these DFT calculations are confirmed by detailed comparison of the X-ray crystal structure of beta-1 (beta-Cs(4.5)K(0.5)[Al(III)W(12)O(40)].7.5H(2)O; orthorhombic, space group Pmc2(1), a = 16.0441(10) A, b = 13.2270(8) A, c = 20.5919(13) A, Z = 4 (T = 100(2) K)) with previously reported structures of alpha-1, alpha- and beta-[SiW(12)O(40)](4)(-), and beta(1)-[SiMoW(11)O(40)](4)(-).