A functionalized polyoxometalate solid for selective oxidation of styrene to benzaldehyde.

The reaction of [Na(12)(H(2)O)(38)][WZn{M(H(2)O)}(2)(ZnW(9)O(34))(2)].3H(2)O (M = Mn, Co) and Co(NO(3))(2).6H(2)O in water at 80 degrees C afforded red crystals of [Co(H(2)O)(6)](2){[Co(H(2)O)(4)](2)[Co(H(2)O)(5)](2)WZn[Co(H(2)O)](2)(ZnW(9)O(34))(2)}.10H(2)O (1), which has been characterized by TGA, IR, PXRD, element analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The polyanion [WZn{Co(H(2)O)}(2)(ZnW(9)O(34))(2)](12-) in is double-linked by cobalt(ii) cations to extend into a 1D anionic polymeric chain of {[Co(H(2)O)(4)](2)[Co(H(2)O)(5)](2)WZn[Co(H(2)O)](2)(ZnW(9)O(34))(2)}(4-) with partial free cobalt cations. The redox active cobalt(ii) sites made compound an excellent catalyst for the oxidation of styrene with high styrene conversion (up to 96%) and high benzaldehyde selectivity (up to 99%).