Cation controlled assembly and transformation of mono- and bi-sulfite templated dawson-type polyoxotungstates

The Dawson-like polyoxometalate clusters (TEAH)(6)[H2W18O57(SO3)] (1) and (DMAH)(8)[W18O56(SO3)(2)(H2O)(2)] (2) were synthesized under similar reaction conditions by employing triethanolammonium (TEAH(+)) and dimethylammonium (DMAH(+)) as cations, respectively. Crystallographic studies revealed that compound I has a compressed, peanut-like {W-18) cage containing a single sufilte anion where each cage metal atom supports one terminal oxo-based ligand whereas compound 2 also has a {W-18) cage, but four of the eighteen cage metal atoms support two terminal oxo-based ligands with two sulfite anions embedded in the cluster