We have previously demonstrated that the complex [(L1O)MoOCl
2], where L1OH = (2-hydroxy-3-
tert-butyl-5-methylphenyl)bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)methane, exists as both cis and trans isomers (Kail, B.; Nemykin, V. N.;Davie, S. R.; Carrano, C. J.;
Hammes, B. S.; Basu, P.
Inorg. Chem. 2002,
41, 1281-1291). Here, the cis isomeris defined as the geometry with the heteroatom in the equatorial position, and the trans isomer is designated asthe geometry with the heteroatom positioned trans to the terminal oxo group. The trans isomer represents thethermodynamically more stable geometry as indicated by its spontaneous formation from the cis isomer. In thisreport, we show that for complexes of [(LO)MoOCl
2], where LOH is the sterically less restrictive (2-hydroxyphenyl)bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)methane, only the trans isomer could be isolated, while in the corresponding thiolatecontaining ligand (2-dimethylethanethiol)bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)methane (L3SH) only the cis isomer could beobserved. In addition, we have isolated and structurally characterized the complex [(L1O)MoO(OPh)(Cl)], a rareexample of a species possessing both cis and trans phenolates. Using DFT calculations, we have investigated theorigins of the differences in stability between the cis and trans isomers in these complexes and suggest that theyare related to the trans influence of the oxo-group. Crystal data for [(LO)MoOCl
2] (
1) include that it crystallizes inthe triclinic space group
P![](/images/entities/onemacr.gif)
with cell dimensions
a = 8.9607 (12) Å,
b = 10.596 (4) Å,
c = 13.2998 (13) Å,
![](/images/gifchars/alpha.gif)
=98.03 (2)
![](/images/entities/deg.gif)
,
![](/images/gifchars/beta2.gif)
= 103.21 (2)
![](/images/entities/deg.gif)
,
![](/images/gifchars/gamma.gif)
= 110.05(2)
![](/images/entities/deg.gif)
, and
Z = 2. [(L1O)MoO(OPh)Cl]·2CH
2Cl
2 (
2·2CH
2Cl
2) crystallizes inthe triclinic space group
P![](/images/entities/onemacr.gif)
, with cell dimensions
a = 12.2740 (5) Å,
b = 13.0403 (5) Å,
c = 13.6141 (6) Å,
![](/images/gifchars/alpha.gif)
= 65.799 (2)
![](/images/entities/deg.gif)
,
![](/images/gifchars/beta2.gif)
= 64.487 (2)
![](/images/entities/deg.gif)
,
![](/images/gifchars/gamma.gif)
= 65.750 (2)
![](/images/entities/deg.gif)
, and
Z = 2. [(L3S)Mo(O)Cl
2] (
3) crystallizes in the orthorhombicspace group
Pna2
1, with cell dimensions
a = 13.2213 (13) Å,
b = 8.817 (2) Å,
c = 15.649 (4) Å, and
Z = 4. Theimplications of these results on the function of mononuclear molybdoenzymes such as sulfite oxidase, and theDMSO reductase, are discussed.