Synthesis and structural characterization of [CeIV(α2-P2W17O61)2]16− in the solid state and in aqueous solution

Sandwich-type [CeIV(α2-P2W17O61)2]16− polyanion was structurally characterized in the solid state and in aqueous solution. In the crystal, the polyanion has a Ce4+ center square-antiprismatically coordinated by eight O atoms from two mono-lacunary [α2-P2W17O61]10− units, forming a molecular symmetry of C2. In aqueous solution, 31P and 183W NMR spectroscopy revealed that the polyanion stably exist with no dissociation at room temperature (298 K). At higher temperature (363 K), the molecular symmetry approaches C2v or C2h.