Unsymmetrical surface modification of a heteropolyoxotungstate via in-situ generation of monomeric and dimeric copper(II) species.

Unsymmetrical functionalization of a discrete alpha-{SiW12O40} Keggin with two heterometallic building blocks, a Cu(II) dimer and a Cu(II) monomer, results in the formation of [{Cu2(O2CMe)2(5,5'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipy)2}{Cu(5,5'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipy)2}SiW12O40] that displays interesting physical properties.