A number of oxo-molybdenum (V) complexes of 8-hydrooxyquinoline, 5, 7-dibromo 8-hydroxy­quinoline and 5, 7-dichloro 8-hydroxyquinoline have been synthesized and characterised. These are of Idle types: (a) [Mo2O2Cl4 (oxine)2 (O-Phen)], (b) [Mo2O4 (oxine)2 (X)2] (c) [MoOCl (oxine)2] (where oxin H = 8-hydroxyquinoline, \(X\) = pyridine, β-picoline or \(\gamma\)-picoline and O-phen O-phenan- throline). These complexes are all highly coloured, crystalline and quite stable to air. Most of these complexes are diamagnetic or show poor paramagnetic values. The reflectance spectra are characteristic of oxo­molybdenum (V) complexes.