The reaction of cis dioxobis(2,4 pentanedionato)molybdenum (VI) and 2,2′ pyridylbenzoxazole (L), a novel route to β[Mo8O26]4−

MoO2(C5H7O2)2, where C5H7O2 is 2,4-pentanedione (acac), reacts with 2-2′ pyridylbenzoxazole in acetone to give a product with stoichiometry, Mo3C24H16N6O12. This product dissolves readily in dimethylformamide to give a brown solution which on standing for several weeks yielded crystals. An X-ray structure determination showed these crystals to contain uncoordinated 2-2′pyridylbenzoxazole and [(CH3)2NH2]4+[Mo8O26]4−.