Synthesis,spectroscopic characterization and catalytic activity of cis-dioxidomolybdenum (VI) complexes with chiral tetradentate Schiff bases

New chiral mononuclear cis-dioxidomolybdenum (VI) complexes, MoO ₂ L ¹ –MoO ₂ L ¹⁰ , with tetradentate Schiff bases derived from various substituted salicylaldehydes and 1S,2S-(+)-2-amino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,3-propanediol were synthesized. All complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, circular dichroism, electronic and IR spectroscopy. ¹H NMR and also two-dimensional (COSY, NOESY and gHSQC) NMR measurements made for MoO ₂ L ¹ –MoO ₂ L ¹⁰ complexes show that Schiff bases are coordinated to the MoO₂²⁺ cation, creating facial (fac) and meridional (mer) types of geometrical isomers. Moreover, catalytic activity studies were also performed for all complexes in asymmetric sulfoxidation of thioanisole and epoxidation of styrene, cyclohexene and two monoterpenes, i.e. S(−)-limonene and (−)-α-pinene, using aqueous 30% H₂O₂ or tert-butyl hydroperoxide as the oxygen source.