Synthesis and structural characterization of V(IV) and V(V) containing mixed-valence heteropolytungstogermanates

V(IV) and V(V) containing mixed-valence heteropolytungstogermanates have been prepared by controlled potential reduction of corresponding GeW9V3O407-, their electronic spectra have been recorded. The ESR spectra of one-electron-reduced anions in solution at 340K consist of more than 40 equally spaced lines, showing that the three VO6 octahedra in both alpha- and beta-forms are corner-shaped and one of the bridging oxygen atoms is protonated at pH 4.7.