Anisotropic Electrical Conductivity of a Single-Crystalline Oxo-Bridged (Cr4Mo2VI)-Mo-III Heterometallic Complex

Abstract

A new oxo-bridged chromium-molybdenum heterometallic complex, O-CrMoHC ([Cr-4(MoO4)(2)O-2(OAc)(4)(DMF)(4)]center dot 2DMF), was synthesized by using a simple solvothermal reaction. In this complex, the octahedrally coordinated Cr(III) and tetrahedrally coordinated Mo(VI) metal centers are bridged by oxo ligands. O-CrMoHC has in-plane pi-conjugation systems, which are interconnected by noncoordinating DMF molecules. The crystals show anisotropic conductivity with respect to the crystal planes, and theoretical calculations were used to study their origins. The O-CrMoHC single crystals exhibited that a relatively high electrical conductivity with an average value of 5.37 x 10(-7) S/cm was observed along the [01-1] direction, but the current level was very low along the [100] direction. This is the first report of anisotropic conductivity observed in the single crystal of a monomeric heterometallic complex.