Synthesis and structure of Ag(6)[(UO(2))(3)O(MoO(4))(5)]: a novel sheet of triuranyl clusters and MoO(4) tetrahedra

The new uranyl molybdate Ag(6)(UO(2))(3)O(MoO(4))(5)] (1) with an unprecedented uranyl molybdate sheet has been synthesized at 650 degrees C. The structure (monoclinic, C2/c, a = 16.4508(14) A, b = 11.3236(14) A, c = 12.4718(13) A, beta = 100.014(4)(o), V = 2337.4(4) A(3), Z = 4) contains (UO(2))(3)O(MoO(4))(5)] sheets composed of triuranyl (UO(2))(3)O] clusters that are connected by MoO(4) tetrahedra. The topology of the uranyl molybdate sheet in 1 represents a major departure from sheets observed in other uranyl compounds. Of the approximately 120 known inorganic uranyl compounds containing sheets of polyhedra, 1 is the only structure that contains trimers of uranyl pentagonal bipyramids that are connected only by the sharing of vertexes with other polyhedra. The sheets are parallel to (001) and are linked by Ag cations.