Molybdenum-allyloxo and -allylamido complexes as models for the catalytic surface intermediates of the oxidation of propene to acrolein and acrylonitrile

Abstract

Molybdenum(VI)-allyloxo and -allylamido complexes with oxo or imido ancillary ligands are synthesized and shown to decompose under mild conditions to acrolein and allylideneamine, respectively, with dimeric Mo^V compounds as the other products; the analogies between these results and those proposed for the mechanism of the oxidation and ammoxidation of propene are discussed.