Structurally complex molybdenum oxide model catalysts for the selective oxidation of propene

It is our honor to dedicate this work to Sir John M. Thomas on the occasion of his 70th birthday. International cooperation between groups of synthetic and analytical competencies for which the present work is an example brought R. S. into the laboratory of the laureate back in 1979. From then until 1984 a fruitful period of research into various subjects gave to the synthetic chemist the training in analytical methods and implanted the awareness for the pivotal role of real structural details of a solid for its possible functions. From there it is only consequent to apply and develop in situ analytical methods, also a prominent subject in Sir John's activities. The research profile of the laureate demonstrates brilliantly that all analytical results are only useful if they can be exploited by suitable synthetic efforts that are based upon functional insights. Having produced the showcases for the interplay between functional understanding and the design of novel catalysts is one of the sustained merits of the laureate for the development of the whole field of heterogeneous catalysis research. Controlling the precipitation of molybdenum oxide in aqueous solution is a method to arrive at structurally complex solids suitable as model catalysts for selective oxidation studies. Defect geometries of the orthorhombic MoO3 (ortho-MoO3) structure that are essential for the catalytic function are fabricated as main structural motif and require no heating of the catalyst to the temperature of initial mobility of lattice oxygen. The precipitation parameters are identified and are reviewed for their relevance on the final product properties.