The crystal structure of a lyxose-bridged dimolybdate: a redetermination of the first monosaccharide–metal complex’s structure

The crystal structure of the first monosaccharide–metal complex ever reported, a β-d-lyxofuranose-bridged dimolybdate [Taylor, G. E.; Waters, J. M. Tetrahedron Lett. 1981, 22, 1277–1278] was re-determined since the original work shows unbalanced charges, and thus an unclear protonation state of the lyxose ligand. As a result, the complex was found to be a monoanion whose charge is balanced by an ammonium counterion. The lyxose O5 atom is non-deprotonated, and the carbohydrate ligand is trianionic due to deprotonation of the O1, O2 and O3 hydroxy functions.