The controlled decomposition of the sandwich-type polyoxometalates K(12)[(M(OH(2))(2))(3)(A-alpha-PW(9)O(34))(2)] (where M = Mn(II) or Co(II)) in 0.5 M NaCl yields a new family of transition metal substituted POMs of the general formula [((MOH(2))M(2)PW(9)O(34))(2)(PW(6)O(26))](17)(-) (where M = Mn(II) (1Mn) or Co(II) (1Co)). The structure of 1Mn, determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (a = 17.4682(10) A, b = 22.3071(12) A, c = 35.1195(18) A, beta = 95.898(1) degrees, monoclinic, P2(1)/c, Z = 4, R(1) = 6.19%, based on 50264 independent reflections), consists of two B-alpha-(Mn(II)OH(2))Mn(II)(2)PW(9)O(34)(3)(-) units joined by a B-type hexavacant PW(6)O(26)(11)(-) fragment to form a C-shaped polyoxometalate. A low resolution X-ray structure of the Co(II) analogue, 1Co, was also obtained. The UV-visible spectrum of 1Co shows the characteristic charge-transfer bands of polyoxometalates as well as a new Co-centered peak (560 nm, epsilon = 416 M(-)(1) cm(-)(1)) which appears at a higher wavelength relative to that exhibited by the parent A-type sandwich, K(12)[(Co(OH(2))(2))(3)(A-alpha-PW(9)O(34))(2)]. The methyltricaprylammonium salt of 1Mn is an effective catalyst for the H(2)O(2)-based epoxidation of cis-cyclooctene, cyclohexene, and 1-hexene.