Modeling the Formation of Molybdenum Oxides from Alkoxides: Crystal Structures of [Mo(4)O(4)Cl(4)(&mgr;(2)-OEt)(4)(HOEt)(2)(&mgr;(3)-O)(2)] and [PPN](+)[Et(3)NH](+)[Cl(2)(O)Mo(&mgr;(2)-O)(2)Mo(O)Cl(2)](2)(-)

The reactions of the binuclear oxomolybdenum(V) complex Cl(2)(O)Mo(&mgr;-OEt)(2)(&mgr;-HOEt)Mo(O)Cl(2)] (1) with Me(3)Si(allyl) and SbF(3) produce the compounds Mo(6)O(6)Cl(6)(&mgr;(3)-O)(2)(&mgr;(2)-OEt)(6)(&mgr;(2)-Cl)(2)] (2) and Mo(8)O(8)Cl(6)(&mgr;(3)-O)(4)(OH)(2)(&mgr;(2)-OH)(4)(&mgr;(2)-OEt)(4)(HOEt)(4)] (3), respectively. Treatment of 1 with the Lewis base PMe(3) affords the tetrameric complex Mo(4)O(4)Cl(4)(&mgr;(2)-OEt)(4)(HOEt)(2)(&mgr;(3)-O)(2)] (4), which represents another link in the chain of clusters produced by the reactions of 1 and simulating the build-up of polymeric molybdenum oxides by sol-gel methods. The crystal structure of 4 has been determined C(12)H(32)Cl(4)Mo(4)O(12), triclinic, P&onemacr;, a = 7.376(2) ?, b = 8.807(3) ?, c = 11.467(4) ?, alpha = 109.61(1) degrees, beta = 92.12(3) degrees, gamma = 103.75(2) degrees, Z = 1]. By contrast, reaction of 1 with the nitrogen base NEt(3), followed by treatment with PPN]Cl.2H(2)O (PPN](+) = Ph(3)P=N=PPh(3)](+)), gives the complex PPN](+)Et(3)NH](+)Cl(2)(O)Mo(&mgr;(2)-O)(2)Mo(O)Cl(2)](2)(-) (6) in 90% yield. Its crystal structure C(36)H(30)Cl(4)MoNOP(2), triclinic, Pna2(1), a = 21.470(6) ?, b = 16.765(2) ?, c = 9.6155(14) ?, alpha = 90 degrees, beta = 90 degrees, gamma = 90 degrees, Z = 16] includes the anion Cl(2)(O)Mo(&mgr;(2)-O)(2)Mo(O)Cl(2)](2)(-), which is a charged derivative of the species forming the gels in sol-gel processes starting from chloromolybdenum ethoxides. Furthermore, compound 1 is found to be catalytically active in esterification and dehydration reactions of alcohols.