“…For example, the chemistry of molybdenum dihalides started as early as 1826, when MoI 2 was mentioned, followed by investigations on MoCl 2 and MoBr 2 . , Further progress with respect to analytical and structural aspects was made until the early 1900s, − and then by establishing wet-chemistry techniques for these compounds − and an extension to the tantalum congeners. − Pioneering X-ray investigations − revealed as a common structural feature octahedral groups of metal atoms with short metal−metal distanceseven shorter than in the metals themselves. The two building principles of an octahedral metal core surrounded by an inner ligand sphere X i and an outer ligand sphere Y a , as in [(M 6 X i 12 )Y a 6 ] 4- for M = Nb, Ta, and in [(M 6 X i 8 ) Y a 6 ] 2- , X = halide, Y = or ≠ X, and M = Mo, W, are presented by Figure c,d.…”