Novel decavanadate cluster complexes [H2V10O28][LH]4·nH2O (L = Imidazole, n = 2 or 2-methylimidazole, n = 0): Preparation, characterization and genotoxic studies

The title complexes were obtained from the reaction of VOSO4 with imidazole or 2-methyl imidazole in presence of adipic acid/iminodiacetic acid. X-ray crystallographic investigations on [H2V10O28](2-MeImzH)4 (2) revealed a strong interaction between decavanadate anion and the protonated ligand moieties as counter cations to stabilize the crystal motif resulting in a high symmetry 2D sheet network. The cyclic voltammetry of (2) suggested formation of a quasi-reversible redox (VV/IV) couple in the solution. The genotoxic studies employing single cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay) confirmed the non-toxic nature of the compounds.