PUB - Publikationen an der Universität Bielefeld

Polyoxometalates provide excellent models for the understanding of basic aspects of molecular growth processes: Using the same reaction, i.e., the acidification of the aqueous solution of oxoanions, the resulting products span three important areas of matter, from the micro-, through the meso- to the macro"cosmos", the latter of which is characterized by crystallinity or respectively, translational invariance. Upon different types of linking of well-defined building units an overwhelming variety of different species can be formed. Novel types of molecular growth processes (including those based on a type of induced cascade) are described leading to different ring-shaped, electron-rich, mixed-valence, giant polyoxomolybdates with nano-sized cavities. The recent synthesis of various large ring-duster systems has, furthermore, opened new perspectives for a novel supramolecular chemistry in nano-scale dimensions.