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Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Temperature-programmed Deoxygenation of Acetic Acid on Molybdenum Carbide Catalysts
Published on: February 7, 2017
Nucleophilic reactivity of a d0 molybdenum oxo moiety
Warren B Cross1, James C Anderson, Claire S Wilson
1Department of Chemistry,University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, UK NG7 2RD.
Abstract:
The previously reported complexes [Mo(N(t)Bu)(O)(2,6-Me(2)C(6)H(3)O)(2)(py)] () and [Mo(N(t)Bu)(O)(2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3)O)(2)(py)] () have been shown to contain a nucleophilic oxo ligand. The reaction of and tert-butylacetyl chloride gave the novel complex [Mo(N(t)Bu)(2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3)O)(2)(O(2)CCH(2)(t)Bu)Cl] () in 63% yield as the product of nucleophilic acyl substitution. Complex undergoes a clean reaction with triflic anhydride to give the novel complex [{Mo(N(t)Bu)(2,6-Me(2)C(6)H(3)O)(2)}(micro-O)(micro-OTf)(2)] () in 75% yield. Complex appears to be formed from nucleophilic attack of the oxo ligand on triflic anhydride, followed by nucleophilic attack of a second oxo moiety on the cationic intermediate. The solid-state structures of and have been determined by X-ray crystallography. These are rare examples of nucleophilic oxo ligands bound to a d(0) transition metal centre.
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