Cage-like Fe,Na-Germsesquioxanes: Structure, Magnetism, and Catalytic Activity

A series of four unprecedented heterometallic metallagermsesquioxanes were synthesized. Their cage-like architectures have a unique type of molecular topology consisting of the hexairon oxo {Fe6O19} core surrounded in a triangular manner by three cyclic germoxanolates [PhGe(O)O](5). This structural organization induces antiferromagnetic interactions between the Fe-III ions through the oxygen atoms. Evaluated for this first time in catalysis, these compounds showed a high catalytic activity in the oxidation of alkanes and the oxidative formation of benzamides from alcohols.