We
present here that easily available organic salts can stabilize/modify
niobium (Nb) oxo-clusters. The as-synthesized Nb oxo-clusters have
been characterized by various methods. These Nb oxo-clusters were
catalytically active for the epoxidation of allylic alcohols and olefins
with H2O2 as an oxidant. Notably, Nb-OC@TBAF-0.5
appeared as highly dispersed nanosized particles and showed the highest
catalytic activity, which can be attributed to the following reasons
on the basis of characterization. First, the strong coordination of
fluorine ions with Nb sites and the steric protection with bulky organic
cations led to high stabilization and dispersion of the oxo-clusters
in the course of the reaction. Second, a hydrogen-bond interaction
between the coordinated fluorine atom and the −OH group of
allylic alcohol favored the epoxidation reaction. Third, the electron
density of Nb sites decreased due to the strong electron-withdrawing
ability of F– adjacent to Nb sites, thus promoting
the electrophilic oxygen transfer to the CC bond.