Bridging the gap between solution and solid state studies in polyoxometalate chemistry: discovery of a family of [V1M17]-based cages encapsulating two {VVO4} moieties.

A family of polyoxometalates with the composition [H2V3M17O62](6-) features a Dawson-like architecture containing two tetrahedral {VVO4} templates rather than main group hetero-anions ({PO4} or {SO4} etc.) typically associated with classical heteropolyacids, situated within a mixed-metal {MVI17VIVO54} cage and these clusters were first discovered using mass spectrometry.