A series of zirconium-oxo cluster complexes based on arsenate or phosphonate ligands

Abstract A series of zirconium-oxo cluster complexes have been prepared by the reaction of Zr(OnPr)4 and arsenate or phosphonate ligands, namely, Zr6(μ3-O)2(4-aPhaa)4(OnPr)12 (Zr6-1, 4-aPhaa = 4-aminophenylarsonic acid), Zr6(μ3-O)2(tbpa)4(OnPr)12 (Zr6-2, tbpa = tert-butylphosphonic acid), H2[Zr6(μ3-O)(μ2-O)(tbpa)5(OnPr)12] (Zr6-3), and H4[Zr10(μ4-O)4(μ3-O)4(ppa)4(OnPr)20] (Zr10, ppa = phenylphosphonic acid). These complexes have been structurally characterized by the single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Interestingly, the {Zr10} cluster contains a [Zr10O4]32+ supertetrahedron core stabilized by the phosphate groups. In addition, thermal stabilities and phase purities were also investigated in detail.