Two mixed valent molybdenophosphates with a tunnel structure closely related to K0.17MoP2O7: Pb2(PbO)2Mo8(P2O7)8 and PbK2Mo8(P2O7)8

Two new mixed valent Mo(III)/Mo(IV) diphosphates containing lead Pb₂(PbO)₂Mo₈(P₂O₇)₈ and PbK₂Mo₈(P₂O₇)₈ have been synthesized. The [Mo₈P₁₆O₅₆]∞ frameworks of these phosphates are closely related to that of K_0.17MoP₂O₇: the MoO₆ octahedra and P₂O₇ groups form two sorts of large eight-sided tunnels. They are occupied in an ordered way by PbO chains and Pb²⁺ cations in Pb₂(PbO)₂Mo₈(P₂O₇)₈ and by K⁺ and Pb²⁺ cations in PbK₂Mo₈(P₂O₇)₈. It results in different symmetries of these two structures, which are tetragonal and monoclinic, respectively, showing the great flexibility of these mixed frameworks, susceptible to accommodate various species with different sizes.