Spherical polyoxometalates (POMs) such as M6O192-and SiM12O404-(with M= Mo or W) and planar arene donors (anthracenes and pyrenes) can be cocrystallized (despite their structural incompatibility) by attaching a cationic “anchor” onto the arene which then clings to the POM anion by Coulombic forces. As a result, novel charge-transfer (CT) salts are prepared from arene donors and Lindqvist-type [M6O19] 2-and Keggin-type [SiM12O40] 4 ...