The title compound crystallized in the monoclinic space group P2 1 /n (No. 14) [a = 11.211 (5), b = 12.862 (3), c = 23.05 (1) A Ê , = 94.37 (3), V = 3314 (2) A Ê 3 , Z = 2]. The polyanion can be regarded as a dimer of a phenylphosphonatohexamolybdate, (C 6 H 5 P)Mo 6 O 23 (H 2 O) 3 , linked by four O atoms. In this monomeric unit the six molybdenum octahedra are grouped into two parts consisting of four and two edge-sharing octahedra, respectively. These two parts are connected by two corner-sharing O atoms to form a bent Mo 6 ring. The phenylphosphonate group coordinates to the Mo 6 ring from the narrow side as a tripodal ligand. The {(C 6 H 5 P)Mo 6 O 21 (H 2 O) 3 } 2 units form layers parallel to (001) and the structure is stabilized by hydrogen bonds between water and neighboring anions. The monomeric unit has been shown to be a key structure in the process of deducing the aqueous solution structures of the (C 6 H 5 P)Mo