Octacoordinated Dioxo-Molybdenum Complex via Formal Oxidative Addition of Molecular Oxygen. Studies of Chemical Reactions Between M(CO)6 (M = Cr, Mo) and 2,4-Di-tert-butyl-6-(pyridin-2-ylazo)-phenol

Reactions of M­(CO)6 (M = Mo, Cr) and 2 mol of 2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-(pyridin-2-ylazo)-phenol ligand (HL) in air yielded [MoVIO2(L1¯)2], 1, and [CrIII(L1¯)­(L•2¯)], 2, respectively, in high yields. Formation of the Cr-complex is a substitution reaction, which is associated with electron transfer, while that of Mo is an example of molecular oxygen activation. Isolated monoradical chromium complex 2 is susceptible to oxidation. Accordingly the reaction of 2 with the oxidant, I2 produces a cationic nonradical complex of chemical composition [CrIII(L1¯)2]­I3, [2]­I3 in almost quantitative yield. All the isolated complexes are primarily characterized by various spectroscopic techniques and magnetic measurements. While the molybdenum complex is diamagnetic, the two chromium complexes behave as simple paramagnets: μeff (295 K), 2.81 μB and 3.79 μB for 2 and [2]­I3, respectively. Single-crystal three-dimensional X-ray structures of 1, 2, [2]­I3 are reported. The geometry of the Mo-complex is square antiprism (octacoordination), and that of the Cr-complexes is distorted octahedral. Redox properties of the complexes are studied by cyclic voltammetry and constant potential coulometry. The data are analyzed based on density functional theoretical calculations of molecular orbitals of redox isomers of the Cr complexes. The results indicated that the redox events in the complexes occur at the ligand center. The oxidation state of Cr in 2 is further assessed by XPS measurements and compared with the reported systems.