Characterization of novel vanadium(III)/acetate clusters formed in aqueous solution.

We report the first structures of simple acetate complexes of vanadium(III) formed in aqueous solution. Paramagnetic (1)H NMR spectroscopy titration experiments indicate the formation of two major V(III)/acetate complexes in acidic aqueous solution for acetate/V(III) < or =4, pD 3.50. A novel tetranuclear cluster and a trinuclear cluster have been characterized by X-ray diffraction studies. Mass spectrometry measurements show these clusters retain their integrity in solution.