The first examples of benzidinium cations templated low-dimensional molybdates

For the first time, use of benzidine as a structure-directing agent has resulted in the crystallization of two novel organic/inorganic hybrid molybdates under hydrothermal condition (180 °C and autogenous pressure). The presence of monoprotonated benzidinium ions in aqueous molybdate solution appears to engineer two new hybrid solids: one-dimensional chains in [H2NC12H8NH3]2Mo2O7, 1 (a = 5.9686, b = 7.0761 and c = 14.3293 Å, α = 77.17°, β = 85.25° and γ = 88.56°; View the MathML sourceP1¯ and Z = 2) and two-dimensional step-wise layered molybdate [H2NC12H8NH3]2Mo5O16, 2 (a = 5.6843, b = 14.3024 and c = 19.4787Å, α = 108.1°, β = 98.4° and γ = 90.0°; View the MathML sourceP1¯, Z = 2). 1 is an unusual solid wherein the anionic chains are charge compensated by counter cations which also act as ligands to the metal and 2 is a new layered molybdate built of MoO5 square pyramids and MoO6 octahedra.