SmMo₈O₁₄

The crystal structure of samarium octamolybdate is characterized by layers of cis-edge-sharing bi-face-capped octahedral Mo₈ clusters parallel to the (bc) plane of the orthorhombic unit cell. The arrangement of the O atoms is derived from the close-packing layer sequence ABAC. The Mo—Mo distances range from 2.5959 (5) to 2.8413 (6) Å within the Mo₈ clusters, with a mean value of 2.731 Å. The shortest Mo...Mo distance between the Mo₈ clusters within the same layer is 3.0672 (5) Å, and between clusters of adjacent layers 3.6342 (5) Å. The Mo—O distances lie between 1.949 (3) and 2.163 (3) Å (mean value 2.050 Å). The Sm³⁺ ion lies away from the centre of a distorted cubocta­hedron with Sm...O distances ranging from 2.316 (4) to 3.159 (3) Å.

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