Hydrothermal synthesis, crystal structure and properties of [HPDA][H(2)PDA](2)[As-2(III)-AsMo8V4O40]center dot 3H(2)O (PDA = propane diamine)

[NH3CH2CH2CH2NH2][NH3CH2CH2CH2NH3](2)[(As2AsMo8V4O40)-As-III-Mo-V-O-IV].3H(2)O was hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Crystal data: monoclinic, C2/c, a = 45.375(9) Angstrom, b = 11.774(2) Angstrom, c = 23.438(5) Angstrom, beta = 96.62(3)degrees. X-ray crystallographic study showed that the crystal structure was constructed by bicapped alpha-Keggin fragments [(As2AsMo8V4O40)-As-III-Mo-V-O-IV](5-) polyoxoanion. The title compound had a high catalytic activity for the oxidation of benzaldehyde to benzoic acid using H2O2 as oxidant in a liquid-solid biphase system.