A Ni-containing decaniobate incorporating organic ligands: synthesis, structure, and catalysis for allylic alcohol epoxidationElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Bond valence sum calculations of O and Ni (Tables S1 and S2), additional structural figures (Fig. S1 and S2), additional measurements (Fig. S3-S8, Tables S3 and S4), catalytic properties (Fig. S9, S10, Tables S5 and S6). CCDC 1526285 for 1. For ESI and crystallographic data in CIF or other electronic format see DOI: 10

An organic-inorganic hybrid polyoxoniobate, Na 8 {Ni[Ni(en)] 2 Nb 10 O 32 }·28H 2 O ( 1 ) (en = ethanediamine), has been synthesized and characterized. It represents the first example of a trinuclear nickel-containing polyoxoniobate. The catalysis of 1 for allylic alcohol epoxidation was investigated at room temperature in aqueous solution, and was found to catalyze the epoxidation of 3-methyl-2-buten-1-ol with high conversion (98%) and selectivity (94%). Furthermore, magnetic measurements showed that the compound exhibits ferromagnetic interactions. Na 8 {Ni[Ni(en)] 2 Nb 10 O 32 }·28H 2 O, representing the first example of trinuclear nickel-containing polyoxoniobate, has been synthesized. It was found to catalyze the epoxidation of 3-methyl-2-buten-1-ol with high conversion and selectivity.