Intramolecular Electron Transfer and Oxygen Transfer of Phosphomolybdate Molecular Wires.

Phosphomolybdates with different P species exhibiting a 1D molecular structure are synthesized. The materials are constructed by a {[MoO]} molecular tube as a shell with trapping a redox-active species P in the center. The building units ([(HPO)MoO] or [(PO)MoO]) form at room temperature, which further polymerize linearly along the -axis. Interestingly, the material shows an unusual heat-triggered intramolecular redox property, which undergoes an electron-transfer-oxygen-transfer procedure from [{(HPO)MoO]} to {[(PO)MoO]}. The crystal structure of the material is stable during the oxidation reaction, while the central P is oxidized and the local structure changes.