POLYOXOMETALATES - FROM MAGNETIC CLUSTERS TO MOLECULAR MATERIALS

The potential relevance of polyoxometalate chemistry for providing compounds that can be of interest in molecular magnetism and in the preparation of new classes of molecular materials is discussed. We show that this kind of inorganic complex provides remarkable examples of magnetic dusters for which the number and type of interacting metal atoms can be varied in a controlled manner. They also provide striking examples of high nuclearity mixed valence clusters in which delocalized electrons can interact with the localized moments of the metal centers. Finally, we illustrate the use of polyoxoanions as inorganic components of new molecular materials based on organic donors of the tetrathiafulvalene type. In particular, we discuss the possibility of synthesizing molecular materials coupling localized magnetic moments with delocalized electrons taking advantage of the magnetic character in the polyanion.