A variety of combinatorially linkable units as disposition: from a giant icosahedral Keplerate to multi-functional metal-oxide based network structures

In polyoxometalate chemistry a large variety of compounds, clusters and sol id-state structures can be formed by linking together metal-oxygen building blocks. Interestingly, reactions based on libraries of virtual building bl ocks can be planned under appropriate conditions, resulting for instance in the high-yield synthesis of inorganic superfullerenes and giant ring-shape d, electron-rich, mixed-valence polyoxomolybdates with nanosized cavities. The latter species can continue to grow and also can be covalently linked t ogether to form chains as well as layered mesoporous compounds with propert ies relevant for materials science. The largest polyoxometalate cluster obt ained on the basis of such a growth process consists of 248 Mo atoms. Remar kably, such giant ring species can also act as hosts for other clusters for ming new types of supramolecular compounds.