Oxoperoxo-molybdenum and -tungsten(VI) complexes: their synthesis, structure and catalytic uses in the peroxidic oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes and ketones

MO3.nH(2)O when dissolved in H2O2 reacts with QOH (8-quinolinol) affording MO(O-2)(2).2QOH wherefrom [MO(O-2)(QO)(2)] [M = Mo (1) and W (2)] is obtained during crystallization and the synthesis and structure of 2 is reported here for the first time. Using both land 2 as catalyst precursor and H2O2, O-2 or H2O2 + O-2 as oxidant, benzyl and cinnamoyl alcohol, cyclohexanol and isopropanol are selectively oxidized to their corresponding aldehydes and ketones, but this selectivity is not strictly exhibited when substrates are aliphatic alcohols. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.