Molybdenum(V) oxidetribromide complexes and the oxidation of molybdenum(III) halides by triphenylphosphine oxide and triphenylarsine oxide

Abstract

Complexes of molybdenum(V) oxidetribromide of the types MoOBr 3,2L (L = methyl cyanide or triphenylarsine oxide) and MoOBr 3,B (B = 2,2′-bipyridyl or 1,10-phenanthroline) have been prepared by direct reaction. Molybdenum(III) chloride or bromide and potassium hexachloromolybdate(III) are oxidised by molten triphenylphosphine oxide to Mo vOX 3,2L (XCl, Br) complexes, whereas the same species react with molten triphenylarsine oxide with greater oxidation to give Mo viO 2X 2,2L (XCl, Br) complexes.