Prospects for Rational Assembly of Composite Polyoxometalates

The directed synthesis of large inorganic polyoxometalates with specific structural and stereochemical features remains an elusive but not unattainable goal. We have shown that opportunities exist for straightforward assembly of stable or metastable polyoxometalate subunits using principles of both coordination chemistry and organic synthesis. Among the many advantages offered by such synthetic approaches is the generation of chiral structures for molecular recognition and catalytic selectivity that we are currently pursuing.