Synthesis and catalytic properties in olefin epoxidation of dioxomolybdenum(vi) complexes bearing a bidentate or tetradentate salen-type ligand

The monomeric cis-dioxomolybdenum(VI) complexes MoO₂(oep-saldpen)] and MoO₂Cl₂(oep-H₂saldpen)], with a tetradentate N₂(imine)O₂] and bidentate N₂(imine)] salen-type ligand functionalised with two pyrrole derivative pendant arms oep-H₂saldpen = 1,2-diphenylethylenebis(3-oxyethylpyrrole)salicylideneimine], were synthesised and characterised by ¹H NMR, IR and Raman spectroscopy. The solid-state structure of the free ligand oep-H₂saldpen was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Assignment of the vibrational spectra of the molybdenum complexes was supported by carrying out ab initio calculations for the possible isomers using MoO₂(salen)] and MoO₂Cl₂(H₂salen)] as model compounds H₂salen = N,N′-ethylenebis(salicylideneimine)]. The oep-saldpen complexes were examined as catalysts for the epoxidation of cyclooctene, (R)-(+)-limonene, styrene, α-pinene, and cis and trans-β-methylstyrene, with tert-butyl hydroperoxide as the oxidant. Both complexes exhibited high selectivity for the epoxidation reaction, with the bis(chloro) complex being always the more active of the two.