Dioxomolybdenum(VI) complexes with amino acid functionalized N-salicylidene hydrazides: Synthesis, structure and catalytic activity

A cis-dioxomolybdenum(VI) complex with an amino acid functionalized hydrazone ligand derived from salicylaldehyde and Boc-protected β-alanine hydrazide (Boc = t-butyloxycarbonyl) has been synthesized. The X-ray crystal structure reveals a distorted octahedral geometry at the molybdenum atom with an O5N donor set and vast hydrogen bonding interactions including the amino acid side chain of the ligand. The new cis-dioxomolybdenum(VI) complex is an efficient catalyst for the peroxidic oxidation of sulfides, but does not show any activity towards the oxidation of bromide.