New insights into the reaction of t-butylhydroperoxide with dichloro- and dimethyl(dioxo)molybdenum(VI)

Lewis-base adducts of dichlorodioxomolybdenum(VI) and dimethyldioxomolybdenum(VI) react in an equilibrium reaction with excess t-butylhydroperoxide (TBHP) under the formation of a seven-coordinated molybdenum(VI) complexes displaying a η¹-alkylperoxo-ligand. HCl/CH₄ elimination or the protonation of the Lewis-base ligand is not observed, the TBHP hydrogen atom is instead transferred to one of the terminal oxo ligands under the formation of a molybdenum bound OH moiety. The peroxo species is assumed to be the active catalyst in olefin epoxidation.