Rubidium-templated bowl-shaped isopolyoxoantimonates [RbH11−x(RSb)14O34]x− derived from arylstibonic acids

Arylstibonic acids, RSbO3H2 (R = p-MeC6H4- or p-ClC6H4-) when neutralised in the presence of Rb+ give isopolyoxometalates derived from [RbH11(RSb)14O34]. The X-ray crystal structures of four examples were determined and all gave the same basic framework with a bowl-shaped Sb14 polyhedron cradling the Rb+ in an 11-coordinate embrace. All were further linked into chains in the lattice by an intermolecular interaction involving a second Rb+, coordinated to three O atoms of one polyoxometalate and to an aryl group of an adjacent unit via an η6 interaction. One example has the same basic structure but with one framework O atom replaced by a Br.