1ST ELECTROSYNTHESIS OF TRANSITION-METAL PEROXO COMPLEXES - SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND REACTIVITY OF MOLYBDENUM AND TUNGSTEN HETEROLIGAND PEROXO COMPLEXES

Molecular peroxo complexes of molybdenum and tungsten, viz. [MO(O2)2L] (M = Mo or W; L = 2,2'-bipyridine, 1, 10-phenanthroline or 2,2'-bipyridine-N,N'-dioxide), have been synthesized electrochemically using a sacrificial molybdenum or tungsten anode in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and then precipitating with the corresponding heteroligands. These complexes have also been prepared by the dissolution of metal powders in hydrogen peroxide. They have been characterized by elemental analysis and vibrational spectra. The complexes oxidize triphenylphosphine and triphenylarsine to triphenylphosphine oxide and triphenylarsine oxide, respectively.