On the dimorphism of Pr6Mo10O39

Attempts to synthesize Pr4Mo7O27 using Pr, Pr6O11 and MoO3 in a molar ratio of 8:6:77 led to a main product of scheelite-type Pr0.667[MoO4] and few single crystals of the triclinic A-type Pr6Mo10O39. The latter crystallizes in space group P1̅ (a=945.25(1), b=1058.49(2), c=1815.16(3) pm; α=104.149(1), β=95.220(1), γ=102.617(1)°, Z=2). Its crystal structure comprises six crystallographically independent Pr3+ cations, eight tetrahedral [MoO4]2− units, and one [Mo2O7]2− entity. The cations display coordination numbers of seven (1×) and eight (5×), while the [MoO4]2− tetrahedra are surrounded by five Pr3+ cations each. The [Mo2O7]2− anions exhibit a coordination environment of seven Pr3+ cations. The attempt to synthesize PrF[MoO4] using PrOF (from in situ thermal decomposition of PrF[CO3]) as reagent did not lead to the desired product but to monoclinic B-type Pr6Mo10O39. This slightly less dense modification compared to its triclinic analogue crystallizes in space group C2/c (a=1247.93(3), b=1989.68(6), c=1392.52 (4) pm, β=100.505(2)°, Z=4) with three crystallographically independent Pr3+ cations, four [MoO4]2− tetrahedra, and again one [Mo2O7]2− unit in the crystal structure. Thus, both Pr6Mo10O39 modifications are better described with the structured formula Pr6[MoO4]8[Mo2O7]. The coordination numbers around the Pr3+ cations are seven (1×) and eight (2×) while all four [MoO4]2− anions are again surrounded by five Pr3+ cations each. Six of the latter represent the coordination environment around the [Mo2O7]2− entities. Besides the thorough comparison of the crystal structures single crystal Raman spectra were recorded for both Pr6Mo10O39 phases.