A thirty-year old mystery solved: identification of a new heptatungstate from non-aqueous solutions

A new isopolyoxotungstate has been characterised, thirty years since the first spectroscopic evidence of its existence. The heptatungstate [W7O24H](5-), containing a {W-5} lacunary Lindqvist unit fused to a ditungstate fragment, has significant stability and is only the third isopolytungstate structure to be obtained from non-aqueous systems.

Automated summary

A novel isopolyoxotungstate has been identified after 30 years since its initial spectroscopic evidence. The heptatungstate [W7O24H](5-) features a stable structure with a fused {W-5} lacunary Lindqvist unit and a ditungstate fragment, being the third isopolytungstate obtained from non-aqueous systems.