Synthesis and structure determination of tetrakis(4-iodoanilinum) β-octamolybdate dihydrate

► Studied compound forms a layered structure based on β-octamolybdate anions. ► IR, TG-DTA show that water is loosely bound. ► On dehydration XRD pattern change is observed, new phase not yet characterized. ► Presence of halogen bonding is predicted based on I⋯O distance and CI⋯O angle.