The complexes
cis-Tp
iPrMo
VIO
2(OAr-R) (Tp
iPr = hydrotris(3-isopropylpyrazol-1-yl)borate,
-OAr-R = hydrogen-bondi
ngphenolate derivative) are formed upon reaction of Tp
iPrMoO
2Cl, HOAr-R, and NEt
3 in dichloromethane. The ora
nge,diamagnetic, dioxo-Mo(VI) complexes exhibit stro
ng ![](/images/gifchars/nu.gif)
(MoO
2) IR bands at ca. 935 and 900 cm
-1 and NMR spectraindicative of
Cs symmetry. They undergo electrochemically reversible, one-electron reductions at potentials in thera
nge -0.836 to -0.598 V vs SCE; the only exception is the 2-CO
2Ph derivative, which exhibits an irreversiblereduction at -0.924 V. The complexes display distorted octahedral geometries, with a cis arra
ngement of terminaloxo ligands and with
d(Mo=O)
av = 1.695 &Ari
ng; and
![](/images/entities/a<font color=)
ng.gif">(MoO
2)
av = 103.2
![](/images/entities/deg.gif)
. The R groups of the 2-CHO and 2-NHCOMederivatives are directed away from the oxo groups and into a cleft in the Tp
iPr ligand; these derivatives arecharacterized by Mo-O-C
ipso a
ngles of ca. 131
![](/images/entities/deg.gif)
(conformation 1). The R group(s) in the 2-CO
2Me and 2,3-(OMe)
2derivatives lie above the face of the three O-donor atoms (directed away from the Tp
iPr ligand) and the complexesdisplay Mo-O-C
ipso a
ngles of 153.1(2) and 149.7(2)
![](/images/entities/deg.gif)
, respectively (conformation 2). Conformations 1 and 2 areboth observed in the positionally disordered 2-COMe and 2-COEt derivatives, the two conformers havi
ng Mo-O-C
ipso a
ngles of 130-140 and >150
![](/images/entities/deg.gif)
, respectively. The 3-COMe and 3-NEt
2 derivatives have substituents that projectaway from the Tp
iPr ligand and Mo-O-C
ipso a
ngles of 134.2(2) and 147.7(2)
![](/images/entities/deg.gif)
, respectively. Many of the complexesexhibit fluxional behavior on the NMR time scale, consistent with the rapid interconversion of two conformers insolution.