Tracking the Active Site in Vanadium Polyoxometalate Catalyzed Electron Transfer - Oxygen Transfer Reactions in Solution

This research proposal aims toward evaluation of catalytically active vanadium centre incorporated in water-soluble Keggin type polyoxometalate (POM), H5PV2Mo10O40.32H2O by tracking the V-centre under reaction conditions with the help of X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES). The outcome of this research will answer key questions like (a)change in oxidation state and symmetry of active vanadium centre in homogeneous phase,(b) vanadium being in octahedral coordination, how it is still able to transfer electron and oxygen to an organic molecule? and (c) during the electron transfer is there any V-C bond formation? In conventional XAS it is difficult to distinguish between C and O which in this case is believed to overcome via valence to core XES.The proposed research will help in undersatnding how POM breathe in solution while participating in a catalytic cycle.This work also will also pave the way for future possibilities of in-depth understanding of how molecular catalyst work in solution.