Functionalized polyoxometalates with covalently linked bisphosphonate, N-donor or carboxylate ligands: from electrocatalytic to optical properties

The structures of two families of hybrid organic-inorganic polyoxometalates (POMs) functionalized by covalently grafted carboxylate or bisphosphonate ligands are overviewed. The first family concerns the so-called POMOF materials, built from the connection of mixed-valent ε-Keggin type polyoxomolybdates via N-donor or carboxylate organic molecules coordinated to transition metal ions (Zn(II), Co(II), Ni(II)) grafted at the surface of the POMs. The simulation of the hypothetical zeolitic-like POMOF structures is presented and compared to the experimental ones. The second family gathers the various molecular Mo(V), Mo(VI) and W(VI) POMs incorporating directly into their architecture bisphosphonate (BP) ligands. The potentiality of this family of hybrid POMs comes from the organic group grafted on the carbon atom which bears the two phosphonate groups. For both families, besides the structural description, synthetic trends and an overview of their properties are presented. Namely, the electrocatalytic properties (production of H(2) and reduction of BrO(3)(-)) of the ε-Keggin type polyoxomolybdates are described. The optical and biological activities of the POM-BP compounds as well as their ability to form nanosystems are also reported.