Hydrothermal Synthesis, Crystal Structure, Conductivity, and Thermal Decomposition of [Cu(4,4‘-bipy)(H₂O)(Mo₃O₁₀)]·H₂O

The hydrothermal reaction of (NH₄)₆Mo₇O₂₄·4H₂O, CuCl₂·2H₂O, and 4,4‘-bipyridine yields bipyridine-ligated copper-trimolybdate monohydrate [Cu(4,4‘-bipy)(H₂O)(Mo₃O₁₀)]·H₂O in the monoclinic system with space group of C_2/c and cell parameters of a = 15.335(2) Å, b = 15.535(2) Å, c = 15.106(2) Å, β = 101.162(2)°, V = 3530.7(9) ų, and Z = 8. Its structure consists of one-dimensional infinite {[Mo₃O₁₀]^2-}_∞ chains linked through {Cu₂(H₂O)₂(4,4‘-bipy)} units. The Mo−O chain contains distorted {MoO₆} octahedra connected through corner-sharing oxygen atoms into infinite chains along the c direction and each chain is located in the channel formed by four adjacent crossing chains of {Cu(4,4‘-bipy)(H₂O)}_n²ⁿ⁺. The crystal shows weak conductivity through Mo−O chain along the c direction and insulating property along either a or b direction. Furthermore, a crystalline bimetallic oxide, CuMo₃O₁₀, forms when the title compound undergoes thermal treatment in N₂ atmosphere after the complete removal of the ligands.