Synthesis, crystal structure and reactivity of a new pentacoordinated chiral dioxomolybdenum(VI) complex

The novel tridentate chiral ligand 2,6-bis{[(1R,2S,4R)-2-hydroxy-1,3,3-trimethyl-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl]}pyridine (1) was readily prepared by reaction of 2,6-dilithiopyridine with (R)-(−)-fenchone. Reaction of 1 with [MoO2(acac)2] resulted in the formation of the new metal-oxo five-coordinated complex [MoO2(ONO)] (2) [ONO = (1 - 2H)]. The reactivity of 2 has been studied and the derivatives [MoS2(ONO)] (3) and [MoO(O2)(ONO)] (4) were prepared. The compounds 1-4 have been characterised by 1H and 13C{1H} NMR, microanalysis and IR spectroscopy. Furthermore, the molecular structures of 1 and 2 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The behaviour of 2 as catalyst in oxotransfer and in nucleophilic substitution of propargylic alcohols reactions has been tested.