Gas-phase coordination complexes of U(VI)O2(2+), Np(VI)O2(2+), and Pu(VI)O2(2+) with dimethylformamide

Electrospray ionization of actinyl perchlorate solutions in H₂O with 5% by volume of dimethylformamide (DMF) produced the isolatable gas-phase complexes, [An^VIO₂(DMF)₃(H₂O)]²⁺ and [An^VIO₂(DMF)₄]²⁺, where An = U, Np, and Pu. Collision-induced dissociation confirmed the composition of the dipositive coordination complexes, and produced doubly- and singly-charged fragment ions. The fragmentation products reveal differences in underlying chemistries of uranyl, neptunyl, and plutonyl, including the lower stability of Np(VI) and Pu(VI) compared with U(VI).     

Synthesis and Characterization of Variable-valent Imidorhenium Species. A Family of Imidorhenium(VI) Amide Complexes and their Imidorhenium(V) Imine Precursors Related by Oxygen Atom Transfer

The synthesis of imidorhenium(V) [Re(NAr)Cl₃(L)] complexes is reported. Their reaction with dilute HNO₃ furnishes [Re(NAr)Cl₃(L′)] species incorporating monoionized iminoamide ligands (the ligands are abbreviated as L and L′ respectively). The iminoamide complexes exhibit sextet EPR spectra in CH₂Cl₂ solution at room temperature. They are electroactive in MeCN solution and to display two quasi reversible responses near 0.2 and 1.6 V which can be attributed to Re^V→Re^VI and Re^VI → Re^VII oxidations respectively. One of the [Re(NAr)Cl₃(L)] complexes has been structurally characterized. The trans influence of the amide nitrogen considerably lengthens the Re–N bond lying trans to the imido group. The triply bonded ReN–C moiety is linear.     

Two novel windmill-like tetrasupporting heteropolyoxometalates: [MoVI7MoVVIV8O40(PO4)][M(phen)2(OH)]2[M(phen)2(OEt)]2 (M=Co,Ni)

Two interesting neutral tetrasupporting heteropolyoxometalates: [Mo^VI₇Mo^VV^IV₈O₄₀(PO₄)][M(phen)₂(OH)]₂[M(phen)₂(OEt)]₂·xH₂O (phen=1,10-phenanthroline, EtOH=ethanol, M=Co, x=7, 1; M=Ni, x=6, 2) were hydrothermally prepared and structurally characterized. The mixed molybdenum–vanadium polyoxoanion [Mo^VI₇Mo^VV^IV₈O₄₀(PO₄)]⁴⁻ exist in both two complexes, which acts as a bridge to covalently link two pairs of transition metal complex fragments, generating neutral windmill-like trimetallic nanocluster polyoxometalates. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements of complexes 1 and 2 reveal that antiferromagnetic exchange interaction exists in this type of trimetallic tetrasupporting heteropolyoxometalates.     

Two New Polyoxovanadate‐supported Transition Metal Complexes: [Zn(en)2][Zn(en)2(H2O)2][{Zn(en)(enMe)}As6V15O42(H2O)]·4H2O and [Zn2(enMe)2(en)3][{Zn(enMe)2}As6V15O42(H2O)]·4H2O

Two novel As‐V‐O cluster supported transition metal complexes, [Zn(en)₂][Zn(en)₂(H₂O)₂][{Zn(en)(enMe)}As₆V₁₅O₄₂(H₂O)]·4H₂O ( 1 ) and [Zn₂(enMe)₂(en)₃][{Zn(enMe)₂}As₆V₁₅O₄₂(H₂O)]·4H₂O ( 2 ), have been hydrothermally synthesized. The single X‐ray diffraction studies reveal that both compounds consist of discrete noncentral polyoxoanions [{Zn(en)(enMe)}As₆V₁₅O₄₂(H₂O)]^4? or [{Zn(enMe)₂}As₆V₁₅O₄₂(H₂O)]^4? cocrystallized with respective zinc coordination complexes. Interestingly, compounds 1 and 2 exhibit the first two polyoxovanadates containing As₈V₁₅O₄₂‐(H₂O)]^6? cluster decorated by only one transition metal complex. Crystal data: 1 , monoclinic, P2₁/n, a = 14.9037(4) Å, b = 18.1243(5) Å, c = 27.6103(7) Å, β = 105.376(6)°, Z = 4; 2 monoclinic, P2₁/n, a = 14.9786(7) Å, b = 33.0534(16) Å, c = 14.9811(5) Å, Z = 4.     

Crystal structure of (C2H7N4O)2[UO2(C2O4)2(H2O)]

The single crystals of (C₂H₇N₄O)₂[UO₂(C₂O₄)₂(H₂O)] were studied by X-ray diffraction. The crystals are monoclinic, space group Pn, Z = 2, unit cell parameters: a = 9.4123(2) Å, b = 8.4591(2) Å, c = 11.8740(3) Å, β = 105.500(10)°, V = 911.02(4) ų. The main structural units of the crystals of I are islet complex groups [UO₂(C₂O₄)₂(H₂O)]^2? corresponding to the crystal chemical group AB ₂ ⁰¹ M¹ (A = UO UO ₂ ²⁺ , B⁰¹ = C₂O ₄ ^2? , M = H₂O) of uranyl complexes. Uranium-containing mononuclear complexes are connected into a three-dimensional framework through the electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding system involving carbamyolguanidinium ions.     

Influence of Coordination Geometry on the Ring Opening of Benzoxazine: Oxidovanadium(V), Dioxidomolybdenum(VI) and Dioxidotungsten(VI) Complexes of Benzoxazine Based Ligands and their Bio Inspired Catalytic Applications

Mono benzoxazine appended N-capped amino bis(disubstitutedphenol) ligands [ II ( a–c )] upon reaction with V^VO(OEt)₃ in a 1 : 1 molar ratio in EtOH/MeOH give [{V^VO}en(3,5-dtbb)₃] ( 1 ), [{V^VO}en(3-tb,5-mb)₃] ( 2 ) and [{V^VO}en(3,5-dmb)₃] ( 3 ). During the reaction, the benzoxazine ring opens with the loss of methylene group and the newly formed ligands, N,N-bis(2-hydroxy-3,5-disubstitutedbenzyl)-N’-2-hydroxy-3,5-disubstituted benzyledene-1,2-diaminoethane [ III ( a–c )], behave as tribasic pentadentate in these complexes. Under similar conditions, when [M^VIO₂(acac)₂] (M=Mo or W; Hacac=acetylacetone) reacts with II ( a–c ), these ligands retain their identity and form cis-[M^VIO₂] complexes, [{Mo^VIO₂}{en(3,5-dtbb)₂(6,8-dtbbenzox)}] ( 4 ), [{Mo^VIO₂}{en(3-tb,5-mb)₂(6-tb,8-mbbenzox)}] ( 5 ) and [{Mo^VIO₂}{en(3,5-dmb)₂(6,8-dmbenzox)}] ( 6 ), [{W^VIO₂}{en(3,5-dtbb)₂(6,8-dtbbenzox)}] ( 7 ), and [{W^VIO₂}{en(3-tb,5-mb)₂(6-tb,8-mbbenzox)}] ( 8 ). However, the benzoxazine ring ruptures in case of ligand IIc under these conditions and form [{W^VIO₂}{en(3,5-dmb)₃}] ( 10 ), similar to complexes 1–3 . Complex [{W^VIO₂}{en(3,5-dmb)₂(6,8-dmbenzox)}] ( 9 ), having structure similar to 4–8 , could only be obtained when the reaction was carried out in toluene. Not only 9 , even complexes 4–8 can be isolated in toluene. Rupturing of both benzoxazine rings has also been experienced when ligands 1,2-bis(6,8-disubstitutedbenzo[e][1,3]oxazin-3(4H)-yl)ethane [ I ( a–c )] react with [M^VIO₂(acac)₂] (M=Mo or W) in MeOH and give salan type complexes [(M^VIO₂)en(3,5-dtbb)₂] [M=Mo ( 11 ), M=W ( 14 )], [(M^VIO₂)en(3-tb,5-mb)₄] [M=Mo ( 12 ), M=W ( 15 )] and [(M^VIO₂)en(3,5-dmb)₄] [M=Mo ( 13 ), M=W ( 16 )]. Complexes 1–9 have been used as catalyst for the multicomponent Biginelli reaction for the synthesis of 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones (DHPMs) and oxidative bromination of phenol derivatives.     

The mechanism of Pu<Superscript>VI</Superscript> oxidation with ozone and other reagents in alkaline solutions

The analysis of reported data on the interaction of ozone with alkaline solutions of Pu^VI leads to the conclusion that the process of ozonation involves reactions O₃ + OH^– → HO ₂ ^- + O₂, O₃ + + HO ₂ ^- + OH^– → O ₃ ^- + O ₂ ^- + H₂O and O₃ + O ₂ ^- → O ₃ ^- + O₂. The O ₃ ^- radical ion oxidizes Pu^VI, the HO ₂ ^- and O ₂ ^- anions reduce Pu^VII and Pu^VI and react with O ₃ ^- . Using persulfate instead of O₃ in aerated solution at 80—95 °C results in thermal decomposition of the S₂O ₈ ^2- anion into radical ions of SO ₄ ^- , oxidizing OH^– to the O^– ion, which in reaction with O₂ forms O ₃ ^- . The oxidation of PuVI proceeds via the formation of an activated complex with O ₃ ^- . where charge transfer occurs with the simultaneous elimination of two H⁺ ions. A similar mechanism is operating in reactions of Pu^VI with BrO^–, Fe(CN) ₆ ^3– , Am^VI, and Am^VII. Upon the γ-radiolysis of alkaline solutions of Pu^VI saturated with N₂O or containing S₂O ₈ ^2– , e _aq ^– is converted into O^– and then into O ₃ ^- ; F₂ and XeF₂ in alkaline solutions are decomposed with the formation of H₂O₂, which prevents producing Pu^VII.     

Peroxo and alkylperoxidic molybdenum(VI) complexes as intermediates in the epoxidation of olefins by alkyl hydroperoxides

Novel oxoperoxomolybdenum(VI) complexes with the general formula MoO(O₂)L₂X₂ (III, L = DMF, HMPT) and MoO(O₂)Cl(ON)L(IV, ON) = pyridin-2-carboxylate (Pic), 8-hydroxyquinolinate (Quin) were prepared from the reaction of Ph₃COOH or H₂O₂ with the corresponding cis-dioxo complexes. In the reaction with Ph₃COOH both oxygen atoms of the peroxo moiety were found, by ¹⁸O labeling experiments, to come from the hydroperoxide. The X-ray crystal structure of MoO(O₂)Cl(Pic)(HMPT) revealed a bipyramidal pentagonal surounding with a rather short OO distance (1.41 Å). Complexes III were found to be more reactive than MoO(O₂)₂,HMPT for the epoxidation of olefins (oxidative cleavage products are consecutively formed) but react by the same cyclic peroxymetalation mechanism. The absence of reaction in the case of complexes IV illustrates the necessity for the metal to possess an equatorial releasable coordination site adjacent to the peroxo group for the oxygen transfer to occur. Catalytic oxidation of olefins using Ph₃COOH gave a selectivity in oxygenated products very different from that using t-BuOOH, and ¹⁸O labeling studies showed that alkyl-peroxidic rather than peroxo species are intermediates in this latter reaction. The mechanism of epoxidation of olefins by alkyl hydroperoxides catalyzed by d⁰ metal complexes is discussed.     

Solvothermal synthesis and crystal structure of the Mo(VI)-bridged helical chain containing Mo2(V) dimers: (C4H12N2)2[(MoV2O4)(MoVIO4)(C2O4)2]·2H2O

A new molybdenum complex (C₄H₁₂N₂)₂[(Mo^V₂O₄)(Mo^VIO₄)(C₂O₄)₂]·2H₂O, was solvothermally synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The structure of the compound consists of oxalate acid-coordinated mixed-valent [Mo^V₂O₄][Mo^VIO₄] helical chains and protonated piperazine cations. The helical chains are built up from the [Mo^V₂O₄] units and [Mo^VIO₄] tetrahedral. The central axis about helical chain is a 2-fold screw axis. The compound crystallizes in the space group P2₁/n of monoclinic system with a = 11.396(2) Å, b = 14.107(3) Å, c = 15.805(3) Å, β = 102.09(3)°, V = 2484.6(9) Å³, Z = 4. Other characterizations by elemental analysis, IR, and thermal analysis for this compound are also given.     

Hydrothermal syntheses, crystal structures, and properties of two polyoxometalates [Cd(2,2′-bpy)3]2[PMoVMoVI 11O40] and [H3PMo12O40]·3(4,4′-bpy)·4H2O

Two Keggin-type phosphododecamolybdate compounds [Cd(2,2′-bpy)₃]₂[PMo^VMo^VI ₁₁O₄₀] (1) and [H₃PMo₁₂O₄₀]·3(4,4′-bpy)·4H₂O (2) (bpy=bipyridine) were prepared by the hydrothermal method for the first time and characterized by elemental analyses, X-ray single-crystal diffraction, ESR spectra, and IR spectra, showing that compound 1 consists of a mixed valence Keggin polyanion [PMo^VMo^VI ₁₁O₄₀]⁴⁻ and two isolated coordinated cations [Cd(2,2′-bpy)₃]²⁺, while compound 2 is an intermolecular compound based on organic substrate 4,4′-bpy and heteropoly acid unit H₃PMo₁₂O₄₀. Furthermore, both the compounds show strong photoluminescence properties in the solid state at room temperature. The catalytic activities of the two compounds were also determined by the oxidation of benzaldehyde to benzoic acid using H₂O₂ as oxidant in a liquid–solid triphase system.     

Cobalt(II) complexes with pentadentate Schiff bases 2,6-diacetylpyridine hydrazones: Syntheses and structures

Seven new cobalt(II) complexes based on the Schiff bases, 2,6-diacetylpyridine bis(isonicotinoylhydrazone) (H₂L¹) and 2,6-diacetylpyridine bis(nicotinoylhydrazone) (H₂L²), are synthesized and studied by X-ray diffraction analysis: [Co(H₂L¹)(NCS)₂] · 2.25H₂O (I), [Co(H₂L²)(NCS)₂] · CH₃OH (II), [Co(H₂L²)(NCS)(H₂O)]NCS (III), [Co(H₄L¹)(NCS)₂](NO₃)₂ · 2H₂O (IV), [Co(H₄L¹)(NCS)₂][Co(NCS)₄] · 0.75H₂O (V), [Co(H₄L²)(NCS)₂][Co(NCS)₄] · 1.75H₂O (VI), and [Co(H₂L²)(NCS)(CH₃OH)]₂[Co(NCS)₄] · 2CH₃OH (VII) (CIF files CCDC 941186 (I), 1457906 (Ia), 1457905 (II), 941187 (III), 1457907 (IV), 1457908 (V), 1457909 (VI), and 941188 (VII)). The organic ligands in the complexes act as pentadentate neutral H₂L or doubly protonated (H₄L)²⁺ coordinated through the same set of donor atoms N₃O₂. In all compounds I–VII, the coordination polyhedron of the Co²⁺ ion in a complex with the Schiff bases has a shape of a pentagonal bipyramid. The hydrazones are arranged in the equatorial plane of the bipyramid. Its axial vertices are occupied by the nitrogen atoms of the NCS￣ anions in compounds I, II, and IV–VI and by the nitrogen atoms of NCS￣ and oxygen of the water molecule in compound III or methanol in compound VII. The NO ₃ ^- anions or [Co(NCS)₄]^2￣ complex anions obtained by the reactions are involved along with the NCS￣ anions in the formation of compounds IV–VII.     

Electronic properties of polyoxometalate derivatives [(C2B9H11) M'M5O18]n‐ (M' = TiIV,MoVI, WVI; M = MoVI,WVI): Protonation,Electronic Spectra,and Redox Properties

Density functional theory is used to study the electronic structures and properties of Lindqvist‐type polyoxometalates‐supported organometallic compounds [LM'M₅O₁₈]^n– (L = [C₂B₉H₁₁]^2– (Cb), [C₅H₅]^– (Cp); M' = Ti^IV, Mo^VI, W^VI; M = Mo^VI, W^VI). [(Cb)M'M₅O₁₈]^n– are a series of novel compounds designed in this work, based on related experiment. The calculated results reveal that the Cb ligand is able to form a σ, 2π triple bond with M', which is similar to the bond character in [(Cp)M'M₅O₁₈]^n–. However, comparing with the protonation, electronic spectra and redox properties of [(Cp)M'M₅O₁₈]^n– and [M'M₅O₁₉]^n–, [(Cb)M'M₅O₁₈]^n– species show the advantageous electronic properties owning to the superior electron donating ability of the Cb ligand. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Comparative electrochemistry of technetium(V) and rhenium(V) dioxo complexes

The heavy use of^99mTc in nuclear medicine and the recent development of¹⁸⁸Re radiopharmaceuticals have encouraged the comparative study of Tc and Re coordination compounds. In this work, the electrochemistry of [M^VO₂ (amine)₂]⁺ (M=Tc, Re; amine = ethylenediamine, 1,3-diaminopropane, diethylenetriamine, triethylenetetramine) complexes is studied by cyclic voltammetry and the results are compared. The voltammograms of these compounds, obtained at different pH values, show that [ReO₂(amine)₂]⁺ cations are thermodynamically stable even when protonated. On the other hand, analogous Tc compounds are not so stable and easily decompose if existing as [TcO(OH) (amine)₂]²⁺.     

[H_2N(C_2H_4)_2NH_2]_4(H_3O)[PMo_2~VMo_6~(VI)V_4~(IV)O_(40)(V~(IV)O)_2]·H_2O: A New Highly Reduced, Bicapped Pseudo-Keggin Vanadylpolymolybdophosphate

Ｐｏｌｙｏｘｏｍｅｔａｌａｔｅｓ (ＰＯＭｓ)ｃｏｎｔａｉｎｉｎｇＫｅｇｇｉｎｍｏｉ ｅｔｉｅｓｈａｖｅｂｅｅｎｒｅｃｅｉｖｉｎｇｅｘｔｅｎｓｉｖｅａｔｔｅｎｔｉｏｎｉｎｒｅｃｅｎｔｙｅａｒｓｏｗｉｎｇｔｏｔｈｅｉｒｇｒｅａｔｆｕｎｄａｍｅｎｔａｌａｎｄｐｒａｃｔｉｃａｌｉｎｔｅｒ ｅｓｔ .1Ｅｓｐｅｃｉａｌｌｙｔｈｅｕｎｕｓｕａｌｅｌｅｃｔｒｏｎｉｃｐｒｏｐｅｒｔｙ (ｈｉｇｈｎｅｇａｔｉｖｅｃｈａｒｇｅｓ) ,ｏｎｅｏｆｔｈｅｍｏｓｔｉｍｐｏｒｔａｎｔｐｒｏｐｅｒｔｉｅｓｏｆＰＯＭｓ ,ｈａｓｐｏｔｅｎ…     

Neutral and monocationic dinuclear (carbonyl)(cyclopentadienyl)(phenylchalcogenate) iron complexes of the general formulas [(RC5H4)Fe(CO)EPh]2 and [(RC5H4)Fe(CO)EPh]2PF6 (E = S or Te; R = H or Me): Synthesis, molecular structures, and EPR spectra

Heating of the compounds (RC₅H₄)Fe(CO)₂TePh (R = H (I) and Me (II)) in heptane afforded the dinuclear complexes [(RC₅H₄)Fe(CO)TePh]₂ (III and IV, respectively). By oxidation with Fc⁺PF ₆ ^? , these complexes were transformed into the paramagnetic cationic complexes [(RC₅H₄)Fe(CO)TePh]₂PF₆ (V and VI, respectively). Structures III–V and [(C₅H₅)Fe(CO)SPh]₂PF₆ (VII) were characterized by X-ray diffraction.     

A Bicapped α‐Keggin Unit‐Supported Transition Metal Complex: Hydrothermal Synthesis and Characterization of [Cu(en)2(H2O)]2[Cu(en)2]0.5[Mo8V7O42{Cu(en)2}]

A new metal‐oxo cluster supported transition metal complex, [Cu(en)₂(H₂O)]₂[Cu(en)₂]_0.5[Mo^VI₈V^IV₆V^VO₄₂{Cu(en)₂}], has been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. Its structure was determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The compound crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group (No. 2), a = 12.245(5), b = 12.669(5), c = 20.949(8) Å, α = 77.120(13), β = 78.107(17), γ = 65.560(14)°, V = 2860(2) ų, Z = 2. The metal‐oxo cluster contains a novel bicapped a‐Keggin structure unit and a [Cu(en)₂]²⁺ unit covalently bonded to the [Mo₈V₇O₄₂]^7? cluster.     

Unexpected Molecular Structure of a Putative Rhenium-Dioxo-Benzocarbaporphyrin Complex. Implications for the Highest Transition Metal Valence in a Porphyrin-Type Ligand Environment

A combination of quantum chemical calculations and synthetic studies was used to address the possibility of very high (>6) valence states of transition metals in porphyrin-type complexes. With corrole as a supporting ligand, DFT calculations ruled out Re(VII) and Ir(VII) dioxo complexes as stable species. Attempted rhenium insertion into benzocarbaporphyrin (BCP) ligands on the other hand led to two products with different stoichiometries – Re[BCP]O and Re[BCP]O₂. To our surprise, single-crystal structure determination of one of the complexes of the latter type indicated an Re^VO center with a second oxygen bridging the Re−C bond. In other words, although the monooxo complexes Re[BCP]O are oxophilic, the BCP ligand cannot sustain a trans-Re^VII(O)₂ center. The search for metal valence states >6 in porphyrin-type ligand environments must therefore continue.     

Preparation and Crystal Structures of the Hydrous Mercury Tellurates,HgII(H4TeVIO6) and HgI2(H4TeVIO6)(H6TeVIO6)·2H2O

Single crystals of Hg^II(H₄Te^VIO₆) (colourless to light‐yellow, rectangular plates) and Hg^I₂(H₄Te^VIO₆)(H₆Te^VIO₆)·2H₂O (colourless, irregular) were grown from concentrated solutions of orthotelluric acid, H₆TeO₆, and respective solutions of Hg(NO₃)₂ and Hg₂(NO₃)₂. The crystal structures were solved and refined from single crystal diffractometer data sets (Hg^II(H₄Te^VIO₆): space group Pna2₁, Z = 4, a =10.5491(17), b = 6.0706(9), c = 8.0654(13)Å, 1430 structure factors, 87 parameters, R[F² > 2σ(F²)] = 0.0180; Hg^I₂(H₄Te^VIO₆)(H₆Te^VIO₆)·2H₂O: space group P1¯, Z = 1, a = 5.7522(6), b = 6.8941(10), c = 8.5785(10)Å, α = 90.394(8), β = 103.532(11), γ = 93.289(8)°, 2875 structure factors, 108 parameters, R[F² > 2σ(F²)] = 0.0184). The structure of Hg^II(H₄Te^VIO₆) is composed of ribbons parallel to the b axis which are built of [H₄TeO₆]^2— anions and Hg²⁺ cations held together by two short Hg—O bonds with a mean distance of 2.037Å. Interpolyhedral hydrogen bonding between neighbouring [H₄TeO₆]^2— groups, as well as longer Hg—O bonds between Hg atoms of one ribbon to O atoms of adjacent ribbons lead, to an additional stabilization of the framework structure. Hg^I₂(H₄Te^VIO₆)(H₆Te^VIO₆)·2H₂O is characterized by a distorted hexagonal array made up of [H₄TeO₆]^2— and [H₆TeO₆] octahedra which spread parallel to the bc plane. Interpolyhedral hydrogen bonding between both building units stabilizes this arrangement. Adjacent planes are stacked along the a axis and are connected by Hg₂²⁺ dumbbells (d(Hg—Hg) = 2.5043(4)Å) situated in‐between the planes. Additional stabilization of the three‐dimensional network is provided by extensive hydrogen bonding between interstitial water molecules and O and OH‐groups of the [H₄TeO₆]^2— and [H₆TeO₆] octahedra. Upon heating Hg^I₂(H₄Te^VIO₆)(H₆Te^VIO₆)·2H₂O decomposes into TeO₂ under formation of the intermediate phases Hg^II₃Te^VIO₆ and the mixed‐valent Hg^IITe^IV/VI₂O₆.     

Reactions of tungsten(VI) and molybdenum(V) chlorides,and tungsten(VI) and molybdenum(VI) oxychlorides,with azoxybenzene

Reactions of W^VI and Mo^V chlorides with azoxybenzene yield ionic species of W^VI and Mo^VI oxychlorides in which the cation is a protonated azobenzene. The reaction between MoCl₅ or MoOCl₄ and azoxybenzene gives, after extraction with methylene chloride—ethanol mixture, the complex [trans-MoOCl₄(OC₂H₅)]^? [C₁₂H₁₀N₂H]⁺. In contrast, WOCl₄ reacts with azoxybenzene to give a stable non-ionic adduct in which the organic moiety is coordinated through its oxygen atom trans to the WO bond. Several complexes of substituted azoxybenzene having similar structures are described.     

Efficient epoxidation of electron-deficient alkenes with hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by [γ-PW10O38V2(μ-OH)2]3-

A divanadium‐substituted phosphotungstate, [γ‐PW₁₀O₃₈V₂(μ‐OH)₂]^3? ( I ), showed the highest catalytic activity for the H₂O₂‐based epoxidation of allyl acetate among vanadium and tungsten complexes with a turnover number of 210. In the presence of I , various kinds of electron‐deficient alkenes with acetate, ether, carbonyl, and chloro groups at the allylic positions could chemoselectively be oxidized to the corresponding epoxides in high yields with only an equimolar amount of H₂O₂ with respect to the substrates. Even acrylonitrile and methacrylonitrile could be epoxidized without formation of the corresponding amides. In addition, I could rapidly (≤10 min) catalyze epoxidation of various kinds of terminal, internal, and cyclic alkenes with H₂O₂ under the stoichiometric conditions. The mechanistic, spectroscopic, and kinetic studies showed that the I ‐catalyzed epoxidation consists of the following three steps: 1) The reaction of I with H₂O₂ leads to reversible formation of a hydroperoxo species [γ‐PW₁₀O₃₈V₂(μ‐OH)(μ‐OOH)]^3? ( II ), 2) the successive dehydration of II forms an active oxygen species with a peroxo group [γ‐PW₁₀O₃₈V₂(μ‐η²:η²‐O₂)]^3? ( III ), and 3) III reacts with alkene to form the corresponding epoxide. The kinetic studies showed that the present epoxidation proceeds via III . Catalytic activities of divanadium‐substituted polyoxotungstates for epoxidation with H₂O₂ were dependent on the different kinds of the heteroatoms (i.e., Si or P) in the catalyst and I was more active than [γ‐SiW₁₀O₃₈V₂(μ‐OH)₂]^4?. On the basis of the kinetic, spectroscopic, and computational results, including those of [γ‐SiW₁₀O₃₈V₂(μ‐OH)₂]^4?, the acidity of the hydroperoxo species in II would play an important role in the dehydration reactivity (i.e., k₃). The largest k₃ value of I leads to a significant increase in the catalytic activity of I under the more concentrated conditions.