Novel heterotetranuclear V2Mo2 or V2W2 complexes with 4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine: syntheses, crystal structures, and catalytic activities.

Two novel heterotetranuclear complexes [V(2)O(2)(μ-MeO)(2)(μ-WO(4))(2)(4,4'-(t)Bubpy)(2)] (1) and [V(2)O(2)(μ-MeO)(2)(μ-MoO(4))(2)(4,4'-(t)Bubpy)(2)] (2) were synthesized, and the solid state structures of these complexes were revealed by single crystal X-ray crystallography. The heterotetranuclear complexes 1 and 2 are centrosymmetric building blocks, considered as consisting of two [VO(4,4'-(t)Bubpy)](3+) units bridged by μ-MO(4)(2-) (M = W or Mo) anions connected with methoxy groups. Furthermore, catalytic activities of 1 and 2 in the alcohol oxidation with hydrogen peroxide as terminal oxidants in water as solvent were investigated.