Tris(4,4′-di-tert-butyl-2,2′-bipyridine-κ2N,N′)molybdenum(II) μ6-oxido-dodeca-μ2-oxido-hexaoxidohexamolybdate(VI) acetonitrile tetrasolvate

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, [Mo(C18H24N2)(3)]-[Mo6O19]center dot 4CH(3)CN, comprises an [Mo(di-t-Bu-bipy)(3)](2+) cation (di-t-Bu-bipy is 4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine), two halves of Lindqvist-type [Mo6O19](2-) anions (with each anion completed by the application of a center of inversion) and four acetonitrile solvent molecules. The geometry around the metal atom of the cation resembles a distorted octahedron, with each of the three di-t-Bu-bipy ligands being almost planar [deviation from planarity < 6.3 (2)degrees]. Supramolecular interactions, namely Mo=O center dot center dot center dot pi, C N center dot center dot center dot pi, C-H center dot center dot center dot O and C-H center dot center dot center dot N, along with electrostatic forces, mediate the crystal packing. Two of the tert-butyl groups are affected by rotational disorder which was modeled over two distinct positions with major site occupancies of 0.707 (9) and 0.769 (8).