Asymmetrically fused polyoxometalate-silver alkynide composite cluster.

We demonstrate that an asymmetric composite cluster, [Ag25{C≡CC(CH3)3}16(CH3CN)4(P2W15Nb3O62)] (1), consisting of directly fused polyoxometalate and silver alkynide moieties can be facilely synthesized by a one-pot reaction between a Nb-substituted Dawson-type polyoxometalate, H4[α-P2W15Nb3O62](5-), and the mixture of (CH3)3CC≡CAg and CF3SO3Ag. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealed the structure of 1, where Ag atoms are selectively attached to the Nb-substituted hemisphere of the pedestal Dawson anion. Its structural integrity in the solution was demonstrated by (31)P NMR spectroscopy and analytical ultracentrifugation. The latter method also unveiled the stepwise formation mechanism of 1.