Grafting transition metal–organophosphonate fragments onto heteropolyoxomolybdate: activity in photocatalysis

A novel organophosphonate-functionalized heteropolyoxomolybdate incorporated nickel cluster, CsNa9[H2{Ni3O2(H2O)6}(PMo6O21)2{Ni(OOCCH2NHCH2PO3)2}3]·21H2O (1), has been synthesized, which represents the first member of the family of oxomolybdenum organophosphonate containing hexa-nuclear Ni(II) in a polyanion framework. The polyanion comprises a unique ladder-type {Ni3O10(H2O)6} cluster and three {Ni(OOCCH2NHCH2PO3)2} bridgings, which are capped on either end by a {PMo6O28} group. Photocatalytic experiments indicate that 1 exhibits catalytic activity for the photodegradation of RhB solution. Furthermore, magnetic studies indicate that 1 displays antiferromagnetic interactions.