Peroxo-Cerium(IV)-Containing Polyoxometalates: [CeIV6(O2)9(GeW10O37)3]24–, a Recyclable Homogeneous Oxidation Catalyst

The class of peroxo-cerium-containing polyoxometalates has been discovered via the synthesis of the 9-peroxo-6-cerium(IV)-containing 30-tungsto-3-germanate, [CeIV6(O2)9(GeW10O37)3]24– (1). Polyanion 1 consists of a cyclic [Ce6(O2)9]6+ assembly that is stabilized by three dilacunary [GeW10O37]10– Keggin fragments. The title polyanion 1 is solution-stable, on the basis of 183W nuclear magnetic resonance, and was shown to act as a recyclable homogeneous catalyst for the selective, microwave-activated sulfoxidation of the model substrate methionine to the sulfoxide in the absence and to the sulfone in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Solution and solid-state Raman as well as solid-state infrared studies of 1 demonstrated the complete loss (and regain) of the nine peroxo groups in situ during the catalytic cycle, suggesting that the peroxo-free {Ce6(GeW10)3} skeleton remains most likely intact during the catalytic cycle. Solid-state X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements showed that peroxo loss is acc...