Bioinspired Mo, W and V complexes bearing a highly hydroxyl- functionalized Schiff base ligand

Abstract

A series of bioinspired dioxidomolybdenum(vi), dioxidotungsten(vi) and oxidovanadium(v) complexes [MoO2(H2LSaltris], [WO2(H2LSaltris] and [VO(HLSaltris)](2) were prepared by the reaction of a hydroxyl-rich Schiff base proligand N-(1,3-dihydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)propan 2 yl) 3,5 di-tert butylsalicylaldimine (H4LSaltrisc) with metal precursors in methanol solutions. Molybdenum and tungsten complexes crystallize as mononuclear molecules, whereas the vanadium complex forms dinuclear units. From the complexes, [VO(HLSaltris)](2) shows activity in the oxidation of 4-tert-butylcatechol and 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol, mimicking the action of the dicopper enzyme catechol oxidase.