An Inorganic–Organic Hybrid Framework Composed of Polyoxotungstate and Long-Chained Bolaamphiphile

Abstract

Surfactants are functional molecules utilized in various situations. The self-assembling property of surfactants enables several molecular arrangements that can be employed to build up nanometer-sized architectures. This is beneficial in the construction of functional inorganic–organic hybrids holding the merits of both inorganic and organic components. Among several surfactants, bolaamphiphile surfactants with two hydrophilic heads are effective, as they have multiple connecting or coordinating sites in one molecule. Here, a functional polyoxotungstate inorganic anion was successfully hybridized with a bolaamphiphile to form single crystals with anisotropic one-dimensional alignment of polyoxotungstate. Keggin-type metatungstate ([H2W12O40]6−, H2W12) was employed as an inorganic anion, and 1,12-dodecamethylenediammonium (C12N2) derived from 1,12-dodecanediamine was combined as an organic counterpart. A simple and general ion-exchange reaction provided a hybrid crystal consisting of H2W12 and C12N2 (C12N2-H2W12). Single crystal X-ray structure analyses revealed a characteristic honeycomb structure in the C12N2-H2W12 hybrid crystal, which is possibly effective for the emergence of conductivity due to the dissociative protons of C12N2.