Two diphosphonate-functionalized asymmetric polyoxomolybdates with catalytic activity for oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde.

Two asymmetric polyoxomolybdates Na(6){Mo(2)O(5)(Mo(2)O(6))NH(3)CH(2)CH(2)CH(2)C(O)(PO(3))(2)}·16H(2)O (1) and (NH(4))(7)Na{MoO(2)[(Mo(2)O(6))NH(3)CH(2)CH(2)CH(2)C(O)(PO(3))(2)]}(4)·H(2)O (2) have been synthesized by the reactions of alendronic acid with molybdate. Structure analysis revealed that the polyoxoanions 1 and 2 can be described as dimeric and tetrameric aggregates of the {MoO(3)[(Mo(2)O(6))NH(3)CH(2)CH(2)CH(2)C(O)(PO(3))(2)]} units respectively. Their tetrabutylammonium salts show efficient selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde with 72.5% and 81.5% benzyl alcohol conversion, and 87.1% and 82.4% benzaldehyde selectivity, respectively.