A giant Ce-containing poly(tungstobismuthate): Synthesis, structure and catalytic performance for the decontamination of a sulfur mustard simulant

A novel Ce-containing poly(tungstobismuthate) Cs18Na8H20[Ce3(H2O)10W8Bi4O28(B-α-BiW9 O33)4]2·64H2O (1) has been synthesized by a facile one-pot self-assembly reaction strategy. Its structural characterization is realized by virtue of single-crystal X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis. The polyoxoanion of 1 is an octameric architecture consisting of two tetrameric entities [Ce3(H2O)10W8Bi4O28(B-α-BiW9O33)4]23− linked by two Ce–O–W bonds, and adjacent polyoxoanions are further combined together by means of Ce3+ linkers, resulting in an infinite 1D chain architecture. Compound 1 is the currently largest tungstobismuthate, and also represents the first example of lanthanide-encapsulated tungstobismuthate exhibiting an extended structure. Furthermore, compound 1 as a heterogeneous catalyst, exhibits high activity for the oxidative decontamination of a sulfur mustard simulant, 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES) into 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfoxide (CEESO).