Synthesis, crystal structure, and solid state NMR spectroscopy of NH(4)[(V(2)O(3))(2)(4,4'-bpy)(2)(H(2)PO(4))(PO(4))(2)].0.5H(2)O, a mixed-valence vanadium(IV,V) phosphate with a pillared layer structure.

A mixed-valence vanadium phosphate, NH(4)[(V(2)O(3))(2)(4,4'-bpy)(2)(H(2)PO(4))(PO(4))(2)].0.5H(2)O, has been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c (No. 15) with a = 12.6354(8) A, b = 9.9786(6) A, c = 23.369(1) A, beta = 92.713(1) degrees, and Z = 4 with R(1) = 0.0389. The structure consists of dimers of edge-sharing vanadium(IV,V) octahedra that are connected by corner-sharing phosphate tetrahedra to form layers in the ab-plane, which are further linked through 4,4'-bipyridine pillars to generate a 3-D framework. Magnetic susceptibility confirms the valence of the vanadium atoms. The (31)P MAS NMR spectrum shows a resonance centered at 80 ppm with a shoulder at ca. 83 ppm in an intensity ratio close to 1:2, which correspond to two distinct P sites. The observed large downfield (31)P NMR shifts can be ascribed to magnetic exchange coupling involving phosphorus atoms. The unpaired electron spin density at the phosphorus nucleus was determined from variable-temperature (31)P NMR spectra. The (1)H MAS NMR spectrum was fitted to six components in accordance with the structure as determined from X-ray diffraction.