Heterogeneous photo-assisted catalytic hydration/dehydration reactions based on Keggin and Wells-Dawson type heteropolytungstates

Polyoxometalates (POMs) are a wide class of metal-oxygen clusters that can be applied in acid and oxidation catalysis, medicine, electrochemistry, materials design, or models for self-assembling nanoscale systems as long as green and cheap photocatalysts. Heteropolyacids (HPAs) are a POM subclass extensively used as homogeneous photocatalysts for the oxidation of organic substrates. Dispersing HPAs onto solid supports with a high surface area increases their specific surface area and hence (photo)catalytic activity. This chapter reports the use of selected HPAs, heteropolytungstates, immobilized on different supports as heterogeneous photocatalysts.