Synthesis, structure, and reactivity of a new mononuclear molybdenum(VI) complex resembling the active center of molybdenum oxotransferases

The design, synthesis, and structure determination of a pentaccordinate square-pyramidal molybdenum(VI) complex MoO2L (where LH2 is a diacidic tridentate ONO donor ligand) is reported. The substrate binding capacity Of MoO2L has been demonstrated by the formation and isolation of six-coordinate octahedral complexes [MoO2L(B)] (where B = imidazole, 1-methylimidazole, pyridine, or gamma-picoline) and the structures of [MoO2L(Imz)] and [MoO2L(Py)] have been solved by X-ray crystallography. Oxo transfer Of MoO2L to the substrate PPh3 has been demonstrated by the formation of MoOL and [MoOL(bipy)], Thus, the Complex MoO2L behaves as a model for the active center of oxotransfer molyb-doenzymes and is of interest in biomorganic chemistry, (C) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2003.