The reaction of giant wheel polyoxomolybdate clusters with ethanol

The conversion of ethanol at 100-280 degreesC was used in order to characte rise the redox and acid centres present in Na-15{05[Mo152O457H14(H2O)(68)] .0.5[Mo154O462H14 (H2O)(70)]}.ca. 400 H2O (1). It is concluded that Mo-V/Mo -VI pairs at the external surface of the rings, of which the structure of 1 is composed, are the redox centres active in ethanol dehydrogenation to ac etaldehyde. Simultaneous ethanol dehydration to diethyl ether or ethylene i s a typical reaction occurring on acid centres. It is suggested that OH gro ups situated in (mu (3) -O)(2)O-2 tetrahedrons inside the ring structure pl ay such role. The formation of ethane predominating at highest temperatures is attributed to secondary reactions of primary ethylene.