An α-Keggin polyoxometalate completely constructed from the late transition metal Co(II) as poly atom.

We report a catalytic eight-cobalt-capped α-Keggin polyoxoazocobaltite with a highly symmetric structure completely constructed from the late transition-metal Co(II) as a poly atom, [Co(20)(OH)(24)(MMT)(12)(SO(4))](NO(3))(2)·6H(2)O (1) (MMT: 2-mercapto-5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first homometallic Co(II) magnetic cluster bearing Keggin structure. It can serve as a potential catalyst in the styrene polymerization.