Hydrothermal syntheses, crystal structures, and properties of two polyoxometalates [Cd(2,2′-bpy)3]2[PMoVMoVI 11O40] and [H3PMo12O40]·3(4,4′-bpy)·4H2O

Two Keggin-type phosphododecamolybdate compounds Cd(2,2′-bpy)₃]₂PMo^VMo^VI ₁₁O₄₀] (1) and H₃PMo₁₂O₄₀]·3(4,4′-bpy)·4H₂O (2) (bpy=bipyridine) were prepared by the hydrothermal method for the first time and characterized by elemental analyses, X-ray single-crystal diffraction, ESR spectra, and IR spectra, showing that compound 1 consists of a mixed valence Keggin polyanion PMo^VMo^VI ₁₁O₄₀]⁴⁻ and two isolated coordinated cations Cd(2,2′-bpy)₃]²⁺, while compound 2 is an intermolecular compound based on organic substrate 4,4′-bpy and heteropoly acid unit H₃PMo₁₂O₄₀. Furthermore, both the compounds show strong photoluminescence properties in the solid state at room temperature. The catalytic activities of the two compounds were also determined by the oxidation of benzaldehyde to benzoic acid using H₂O₂ as oxidant in a liquid–solid triphase system.