The reversible, stepwise formation of individual Nb-
![](/images/entities/mgr.gif)
-O-Nb linkages during acid condensation of 2 equiv of A-
![](/images/gifchars/alpha.gif)
-[SiNb
3W
9O
40]
7- (
1) to the tri-
![](/images/entities/mgr.gif)
-oxo-bridged structure A-
![](/images/gifchars/alpha.gif)
-[Si
2Nb
6W
18O
77]
8- (
4) is demonstrated by a combinationof X-ray crystallography and variable-pD solution
183W and
29Si NMR spectroscopy. Addition of DCl to a pD 8.4solution of
1 (Li
+ salt in D
2O) results in formation of a mono-Nb-
![](/images/entities/mgr.gif)
-O-Nb-linked dimer, A-
![](/images/gifchars/alpha.gif)
-[Si
2Nb
6W
18O
79]
12- (
2;pD = 3.0-1.3). At pD values between 1.6 and 0.3, two isomers (
syn and
anti) of the di-
![](/images/entities/mgr.gif)
-oxo-bridged dimer,A-
![](/images/gifchars/alpha.gif)
-[Si
2Nb
6W
18O
78]
10- (
3), are observed by
183W NMR (
C2v and C
2h symmetry for the
syn and
anti isomers,respectively; 5
183W NMR signals for each isomer in the ratio 2:2:2:2:1). X-ray-quality crystals of
syn-
3 were isolatedin 53% yield (
syn-A-
![](/images/gifchars/alpha.gif)
-Cs
8H
2[Si
2Nb
6W
18O
78]·18H
2O, orthorhombic,
Cmcm,
a = 40.847(2),
b = 13.2130(7), and
c= 16.8179(9) Å at 173K,
Z = 4, final R
1 = 0.0685). At the low-pD limit of -0.08 (1.2 M DCl),
4 alone is observed.Additional supporting data are provided by variable-pD
29Si NMR spectroscopy. Reversibility of the above processeswas subsequently demonstrated by acquisition of
183W NMR spectra after incremental additions of LiOH to D
2Osolutions of
4 to effect its stepwise hydrolysis to 2 equiv of
1.