Self-assembly of a novel multicomponent polyoxometalate-based tetrahedral supercluster with high catalytic activity for thioether oxidation

A glamorous polyoxometalate (POM)-based macromolecule containing a tetrahedral supercluster (Hbiz)12[(P2Co2MoV4O8)2(P2MoV2O8)4(Pb⊂P6Co2MoV2MoVI14O73)4]·ca.129H2O (1) was in situ self-assembled from three novel components, [Pb⊂P6Co2Mo16O73]8- (P6Co2Mo16), [P2MoV2O8]4+ (P2Mo2) and [P2Co2MoV4O8]18+ (P2Co2Mo4), respectively. To our knowledge, 1 represents the first tetrahedral supercluster containing the basket-like POM structure. Besides, macromolecule 1 exhibits high catalytic activity and reusability for the oxidation of thioethers to sulfoxides.