N.m.r. studies of complexes of molybdenum(VI) with tartaric acid in aqueous solution

Summary Complex formation between molybdate ions and R,R-(+)-tartaric acid has been studied in aqueous solution, and to a limited extent in DMSO, over a range of concentrations and pH at 298K, using¹H and¹³C n.m.r. techniques. Only four main species are evident; two, which have Mo: L ratios of 11 and 12, are bondedvia a carboxylic oxygen atom and an adjacent hydroxyl oxygen atom. The 12 species forms stereospecifically. The other two main species contain bridging tartaric acid molecules, and a 22 species, also formed stereo-specifically in solution, have been isolated and characterised in the solid state. A limited number of experiments with racemic acid and meso-tartaric acid indicate that only a few species are formed in these systems and with a good deal of stereospecificity also.