Electrostatic MO-O (methanol) bond in benzyltriphenylphosphonium trans-tetrachloro(methanol)oxomolybdate(V)

Benzyltriphenylphosphonium trans-tetrachloro(methanol)oxomolybdate(V) has been obtained from methanol suspension of benzyltriphenylphosphonium molybdate(VI) saturated with hydrogen chloride. The crystal structure comprises discrete trans-tetrachloro(methanol)oxomolybdate(V) anions and benzyltriphenylphosphonium cations. The anion has distorted octahedral geometry of central atom with visible trans influence imposed by short Mo-O bond (1.659(2) Å). The methanol O atom is bonded to the Mo atom, the bond being mostly electrostatic in character. A comparison with previously reported structures indicates that the methanol methyl moiety can switch between different positions with respect to the chloride ligands.