Synthesis, Structure, and Reactivity of a New Mononuclear Molybdenum(<scp>VI</scp>) Complex Resembling the Active Center of Molybdenum Oxotransferases

Abstract

Abstract The design, synthesis, and structure determination of a pentacoordinate square‐pyramidal molybdenum( VI ) complex MoO 2 L (where LH 2 is a diacidic tridentate ONO donor ligand) is reported. The substrate binding capacity of MoO 2 L has been demonstrated by the formation and isolation of six‐coordinate octahedral complexes [MoO 2 L(B)] (where B = imidazole, 1‐methylimidazole, pyridine, or γ‐picoline) and the structures of [MoO 2 L(Imz)] and [MoO 2 L(Py)] have been solved by X‐ray crystallography. Oxo transfer of MoO 2 L to the substrate PPh 3 has been demonstrated by the formation of MoOL and [MoOL(bipy)]. Thus, the complex MoO 2 L behaves as a model for the active center of oxotransfer molybdoenzymes and is of interest in bioinorganic chemistry. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH &amp; Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2003)