Oxygen Atom Transfer Catalysis by Dioxidomolybdenum(VI) Complexes of Pyridyl Aminophenolate Ligands

A series of new cationic dioxidomolybdenum(VI) complexes [MoO2(Ln)]PF6 (2-5) with the tripodal tetradentate pyridyl aminophenolate ligands HL2-HL5 have been synthesized and characterized. Ligands HL2-HL4 carry substituents in the 4-position of the phenolate ring, viz. Cl, Br and NO2, respectively, whereas the ligand HL5, N-(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butylbenzyl)-N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine, is a derivative of 3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylaldehyde. X-ray crystal structures of complexes 2, 3 and 5 reveal that they have a distorted octahedral geometry with the bonding parameters around the metal centres being practically similar. Stoichiometric oxygen atom transfer (OAT) properties of 5 with PPh3 wer…