Lactate complexes of molybdenum(VI)

Spectrophotometric and cryoscopic studies of the molybdenum(VI)-lactic acid (C3O3H6) system show the existence of three different oxoanion complexes in aqueous solution which have been isolated as [Co(en)3]3+ salts. These are one molybdodilactate {[MoO2(C3O3H42]2−} and two dinuclear 1/1 species: [Mo2O5(C3O3H4)2(H2O)2]2− and [Mo2O3(OH)3-(C3O3H4)2]−. The pH of the medium is the main variable, controlling the formation equilibria which are similar to those previously described for other α-hydroxy-acid ligands.