Hydrothermal synthesis, structure characterization and catalytic property of a zigzag chain structural cluster compound built on the novel tetra-capped and centered by NiII

A zigzag chain structural compound named Ni0.5{[Ni(en)]2[Ni(en)(H2O)]2[H3NiMo6W6O40]}·3H2O 1 (en = ethylenediamine) was hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by IR, TG and X-ray diffraction analysis. Structural analysis indicates that compound 1 exhibits an unusual Mo/W mixed NiII centered Keggin structure, which is tetra-capped by two [Ni(en)]2+ and two [Ni(en)(H2O)]2+ units. Two linkages of M–O–Ni(2) and M–O–Ni(4) connect two adjacent tetra-capping clusters in different directions, and it represents a novel inorganic–organic zigzag chain built on the NiII centered Keggin species. Compound 1 is demonstrated to be a high selectivity for benzaldehyde in the oxidation of styrene, while the magnetic data of complex 1 were fitted to the Curie–Weiss law and show antiferromagnetic interactions.