The reactions of molybdenum pentachloride with oxygen-containing molecules

Abstract

Molybdenum pentachloride abstracts the oxygen atom from triphenylarsine oxide yielding (Ph₃AsCl)⁺(MoOCl₄)^– and not the previously reported adduct MoCl₅,Ph₃AsO. Dioxan and molybdenum pentachloride yield MoCl₅, Dioxan, which is the first well characterised adduct of molybdenum pentachloride with an oxygen-donor ligand. Oxygen abstraction however slowly occurs with dioxan to yield MoOCl₃, 1 ½ Dioxan and 2,2′-dichlorodiethyl ether. Triphenylphosphine oxide in dioxan yields MoOCl₃, Dioxan, Ph₃PO. Reactions with tetrahydrofuran and other ethers have also been studied.