(IMo(7)O(26))(2)](6)(-): A missing link between molecular and solid oxides

A new molecular oxide, [(IMo(7)O(26))(2)](6)(-), that has a self-contained structure has been synthesized. Its structural relevance both to the rutile structure and several molecular oxides that had been classified as "strange ones with odd structures" has given some insights as to why those species assume such structures. The novel yet self-contained nature of the structure suggests the existence of a new class of molecular oxides of related structures.