The structural role of metal-organonitrogen subunits in the molecular manipulation of molybdenum oxides

Although solid state metal oxides are of both fundamental and practical interest, the designed synthesis of such materials remains an elusive goal. However, valuable synthetic guidelines may be derived from a consideration of the plethora of Nature's remarkable materials which contain composites of molecules or microstructures in which inorganic components coexist with organic components. The presence of organic subunits can profoundly influence the crystallization of the inorganic microstructure, offering a powerful tool for the design of novel materials. In the specific case of molybdenum oxide phases, metal-organoamine molecules, fragments, an even polymeric coordination complex cations may be exploited in the self-assembly of complex hierarchical materials.