Remarkably fast and selective aromatization of Hantzsch esters with MoOCl4 and MoCl5: A chemical model for possible biologically relevant properties of molybdenum-containing enzymes

Mo(VI) and Mo(V) salts both react selectively with Hantzsch esters to produce substitute pyridines in good-to-excellent yield (75-99%). The remarkable reactivity and selectivity of MoOCl4 under reflux of acetonitrile and MoCl5 in dichloromethane at room temperature encouraged us to propose that molybdenum-containing enzymes (such as xanthine or aldehyde oxidase) also participate to some degree in the metabolism of 1,4-dihydropyridine drugs in the liver analogous to NADH in the respiratory chain. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.