A Novel Ruthenium-Decorating Polyoxomolybdate Cs(3)Na(6)H[Mo(VI)(14)Ru(IV)(2)O(50)(OH)(2)]·24H(2)O: An Active Heterogeneous Oxidation Catalyst for Alcohols

The first example of wholly inorganic ruthenium-containing polyoxomolybdate Cs(3)Na(6)H[Mo(VI)(14)Ru(IV)(2)O(50)(OH)(2)]·24H(2)O (1) was isolated and systematically characterized by element analysis, infrared spectroscopy (IR), thermogravimetric analyses (TGA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 is composed of an unprecedented {Mo(14)}-type isopolymolybdate with a di-ruthenium core precisely encapsulated in its center, exhibiting a three-tiered ladder-like structure. The title compound can act as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst in the transformation of 1-phenylethanol to acetophenone. This catalyst is also capable of being recycled and reused for at least ten cycles with its activity being retained under the optimal conditions.