Synthesis and nanostructure of [Mo(C 6 H 4 O 2 ) 3 ]·2(C 4 H 8 N 2 O) and the synthesis from 1,2-PDA to (C 4 H 8 N 2 O)

Abstract Continuing our work on the synthesis of MoO 2 L 2 and MoO 3 L A L B that show excellent anti-cancer activities in vitro, the MoL 3 have been synthesized by the solvothermal reaction of Na 2 MoO 4 with catechols and 1,2-DPA in the mixed solvent of MeCN/MeOH. X-ray diffraction revealed that Mo in chiral octahedral geometry coordinate with three catechol ligands formed three five-membered rings, and the [Mo(C 6 H 4 O 2 ) 3 ] are linked by hydrogen bonds Mo(OC 6 H 4 )O…H–N(C 4 H 8 O)N–H…O(C 6 H 4 O)Mo through the by-product (C 4 H 8 N 2 O) that are formed by one 1,2-DPA with one CO 2 on the catalysis of Mo-complex. Also, we have disassembled bulk crystal into nano-aggregates, and under TEM mono-lamella morphology of nanostructures was observed, which agrees well with the previous conclusion that the morphologies of the nano-aggregates are associated with the quantum motifs in their crystal lattices. [Mo(C 6 H 4 O 2 ) 3 ] have also been characterized by UV–vis spectra, cyclic voltammogram and thermogravimetric analysis.