The vanadyl ion is an oxovanadium cation, either VO2+ (called oxovanadium(IV)) or VO3+ (called oxovanadium(V)). They are functional groups that are common in the coordination chemistry of vanadium.

Complexes containing oxovanadium(IV) are characteristically blue or purple and paramagnetic. A triple bond is proposed to exist between the V4+ and O2− centers. The description of the bonding in the vanadyl ion was central to the development of modern ligand-field theory.

Natural occurrence

Minerals

Cavansite and pentagonite are vanadyl-containing minerals.

Water

VO2+, often in an ionic pairing with sodium (NaH2VO4), is the second most abundant transition metal in seawater, with its concentration only being exceeded by molybdenum. In the ocean the average concentration is 30nM. Some mineral water springs also contain the ion in high concentrations. For example, springs near Mount Fuji often contain as much as 54μg per liter.

Vanadyl-containing compounds

Oxovanadium(IV)

• vanadyl acetylacetonate, VO(acac)2

• vanadyl sulfate, VOSO4

• vanadyl acetate, VO(CH3COO)2

Oxovanadium(V)

• vanadyl isopropoxide, VO(O-iPr)3 (iPr denotes isopropyl)

• vanadyl nitrate, VO(NO3)3

• vanadyl perchlorate,

• vanadyl fluoride,

• vanadyl chloride,

Related species

• pervanadyl ion, , also known as the dioxovanadium(V) ion

• metavanadate ion,

• orthovanadate ion,

• thiovanadyl ion, VS2+

• titanyl ion, TiO2+

• niobyl ion, NbO2+

• tantalyl ion, TaO2+

References

General references