The dynamic behavior of the acidic protons in a hydrated pseudoliquid phase of H3PW12O40. nH(2)O (n < 6) was analyzed by means of P-31 magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR. With this method the "isolated" acidic protons on heteropolyanions were distinguished from protons in H3O+ and H5O2+. At 173 K, as evidenced by four P-31 MAS NMR peaks, these "isolated" protons were distributed among polyanions so that heteropolyanions directly bonding to 0, 1, 2, and 3 isolated acidic proton(s) coexist. At 298 K, these peaks coalesced, directly demonstrating for the first time the rapid migration of the isolated protons between heteropolyanions.
Uchida, S., Inumaru, K., Dereppe, J.-M., & Misono, M. (1998). The first direct detection of rapid migration of acidic protons between heteropolyanions in H3PW12O40 center dot nH(2)O (n < 6) by P-31 NMR. Chemistry Letters, 7, 643-644. https://doi.org/10.1246/cl.1998.643 (Original work published 1998)