Donor Atom Dependent Geometric Isomers in Mononuclear Oxo-Molybdenum(V) Complexes: Implications for Coordinated Endogenous Ligation in Molybdoenzymes

We have previously demonstrated that the complex [(L1O)MoOCl2], where L1OH = (2-hydroxy-3-tert-butyl-5-methylphenyl)bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl) methane, exists as both cis and trans isomers (Kail, B.; Nemykin, V. N.; Davie, S. R.; Carrano, C. J.; Hammes, B. S.; Basu, P. Inorg. Chem. 2002, 41, 12811291). Here, the cis isomer is defined as the geometry with the heteroatom in the equatorial position, and the trans isomer is designated as the geometry with the heteroatom positioned trans to the terminal oxo group. The trans isomer represents the thermodynamically more stable geometry as indicated by its spontaneous formation from the cis isomer. In this report, we show that for complexes of [(LO)MoOCl2], where LOH is the sterically less restrictive (2-hydroxyphenyl)bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)methane, only the trans isomer could be isolated, while in the corresponding thiolate containing ligand (2-dimethylethanethiol)bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)methane (L3SH) only the cis isomer could be observed. In addition, we have isolated and structurally characterized the complex [(L1O)MoO(OPh)(Cl)], a rare example of a species possessing both cis and trans phenolates. Using DFT calculations, we have investigated the origins of the differences in stability between the cis and trans isomers in these complexes and suggest that they are related to the trans influence of the oxo-group.