The new heteropoly blue compound (MoO2)0.5PMo14O42, which is relevant in the context of catalytic activity of heteropoly-molybdates, was prepared by controlled thermolysis of (NH4)3PMo12O40 at 730 K in a nitrogen atmosphere. Powder X-ray diffraction analysis showed that this compound has a cubic unit cell, space group Pn3m (No. 224), with ao=11.795(2) Å, Z=2 and DXR=4.2466 g cm−3. Computer modeling and Rietveld analysis of powder diffraction patterns led to a proposed structure of the corresponding Keggin-cage unit PMo14O42.
