Electronic and EPR spectra of the species involved in [W10O32]4- photocatalysis. A relativistic DFT investigation.

The decatungstate anion [W(10)O(32)](4-) is widely used as a photocatalyst in different transformations, during which it undergoes one-electron reduction to [W(10)O(32)](5-), possibly protonated; the bi-reduced species [W(10)O(32)](6-) is obtained by ensuing disproportionation. Relativistic DFT calculations were used to predict the UV-VIS spectra and EPR parameters of all such species.