Hydrothermal syntheses and structural characterization of two new supramolecular compounds: (H2bbi)2[Mo8O26] and (H2bbi)2[SiW12O40]·2H2O [bbi = 1,1′-(1,4-butanediyl)bis(imidazole)]

Two new inorganic–organic hybrid supramolecular compounds based on imidazolium and POMs formulated as (H2bbi)2[Mo8O26] (1) and (H2bbi)2[SiW12O40]·2H2O (2) [bbi = 1,1′-(1,4-butanediyl)bis(imidazole)] have been prepared under hydrothermal conditions and characterized by elemental analyses, IR and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. The two compounds consist of protonated bbis together with POMs. [Mo8O26]4− and [SiW12O40]4− are linked through H2bbi into a three-dimensional (3D) network via hydrogen bonds, respectively. Compound 1 is the first example of 3D two-fold interpenetrating hydrogen bond-supported supramolecular assembly from octamolybdate one-dimensional (1D) chain and imidazolium. The fascinating structural feature of compound 2 is that the anions and the protonated bbi ligands formed a 3D (4, 8) supramolecular network by hydrogen bonds. Compound 2 has been used as a solid bulk-modifier to fabricate three-dimensional bulk-modified carbon paste electrode (CPE) by direct mixing. The electrochemical behavior and electrocatalysis of compound 2 modified CPE (2-CPE) have been studied.

Graphical abstractTwo new inorganic–organic hybrid supramolecular compounds based on imidazolium and POMs have been prepared under hydrothermal conditions. Compound 1 exhibits two sorts of 2D supramolecular layer to form a 3D supramolecular network. Interestingly, they penetrated each other to form a two-fold interpenetrating unique 3D network. Compound 2 also form a 3D supramolecular framework by hydrogen bonds.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide