An unusual asymmetric polyoxomolybdate containing mixed-valence antimony and its derivatives: [Sb4VSb2IIIMo18O73(H2O)2]12- and {M(H2O)2[Sb4VSb2IIIMo18O73(H2O)2]2}22- (M = MnII, FeII, CuII or CoII).

A new type of heteropolyanion containing mixed-valence antimony, Sb4(V)Sb2(III)Mo18O73(H2O)2 (1a), and its four derivatives, {M(H2O)2[Sb4(V)Sb2(III)Mo18O73(H2O)2]2}(22-) (M = Mn(II), Fe(II), Cu(II), or Co(II)) (2a-5a), have been isolated as ammonium salt, and their structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The framework of the polyanion 1a displays a curious asymmetric structure, and there exist six types of Sb coordination environments and seven types of {MoO6} octahedra. The title compounds were also characterized by elemental analyses, IR, UV-vis, Raman spectra, and cyclic voltammogramms.