Electron transfer. 116. Reductions by trinuclear aquamolybdenum(III)

Abstract

The red trinuclear cation of molybdenum(IV), Mo 3 O 4 (OH 2 ) 9 4+ (structure I), is reduced rapidly and quantitatively to a green trinuclear molybdenum(III) species, (Mo III )3, using Zn-Hg in 2 M p-toluenesulfonic acid. This trimeric Mo(III) cation reacts readily with a series of (NH 3 ) 5 Co III oxidants, first forming a 1e - oxidation product.