A redox-triggered structural rearrangement in an iodate-templated polyoxotungstate cluster cage.

The new tungstatoiodate, α-[H5W18O59(IO3)]6−, containing IVO3− within a {W18O54} metal oxide framework has been prepared and shown by X-ray crystallography and mass spectrometry to be derived from the fully oxidised [H3W18O56(IO6)]6− by two-electron reduction accompanied by a redox-triggered structural rearrangement where three I–O covalent bonds are broken.