[Molybdenum(VI)/aminopyridinium] system as catalyst for the epoxidation of cyclooctene with H2O2

A new inorganic–organic supramolecular polymer, i.e. [MoO2Cl2(H2O)2]·Hdpa·Cl·H2O (1) (where Hdpa stands for 2,2′-dipyridylammonium), has been synthesised and characterized, including by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. 1 is constituted of inorganic [MoO2Cl2(H2O)2] moieties associated to organic Hdpa units via hydrogen bonds. The combination of hydrogen-bonding and π–π stacking interactions gives rise to a remarkable 3D framework. Compound 1 is an effective catalyst for the H2O2-mediated epoxidation of cyclooctene at 50 °C.