A Meso Butterfly-Like Ce(III)-Containing Antimonotungstate with Catalytic Activity for Synthesizing Isoindolinones

A unique meso Ce(III)-containing antimonotungstate, {Na(OAc)(H₂O)₂[Ce₄(tar)(Htar)₂(Sb₂W₂₁O₇₂)₂(H₂O)₇]}₂^44- (Cetar; H₄tar = tartaric acid), consisting of two enantiomeric parts with a butterfly-like configuration, was successfully synthesized by a one-pot in situ method and characterized. The coordination of d- or l-tar ligands induced the formation of Dawson-like {Ce₂Sb₂W₂₁} with right or left configurations, thereby determining the d/l configurations of {Na(OAc)(H₂O)₂[Ce₄(tar)(Htar)₂(Sb₂W₂₁O₇₂)₂(H₂O)₇]}^22-. Carboxyl groups link these two enantiomeric parts with Ce(III) ions from each other around the symmetric center of the P1̅ space group. The three types of tar ligands exhibit distinct coordination modes, and all coordinate with at least one W(VI) atom using one carboxylate oxygen atom and one α-OH. Cetar represents the largest case among those meso-dl-tar-functionalized polyoxometalates. Furthermore, Cetar exhibits excellent catalytic activity for synthesizing isoindolinones via the three-component reaction of 2-acetylbenzoic acids, amines, and phosphine oxides.