Blue potassium molybdenum bronze, K0.28MoO3, was prepared by hydrothermal heating hydrogen molybdenum bronze in KCl solution at 431 K. Hydrated molybdenum bronze was found formed as an intermediate during the conversion from hydrogen molybdenum bronze to blue bronze. The hydrothermal method proved itself an easy and effective for synthesis of mixed-valence compounds. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA).