Reduction Of Tris(Benzene-1,2-Dithiolate)Molybdenum(Vi) By Water. A Functional Mo-Hydroxylase Analogue System

MOVI(S2C6H4)(3) reacts cleanly and completely with H2O in THF to afford [H3O]+[Mo-V(S2C6H4)(3)](-). Kinetic data were fit by the rate equation -d[Mo-VI(S2C6H4)(3)]/dt = k[Mo-VI(S2C6H4)(3)]/[H3O+], which is consistent with a coupled electron-proton transfer mechanism involving a coordinated H2O molecule. The Mo-VI(S2C6H4)(3) reduction is accelerated by the presence of PPh3 and affords OPPh3. O-18 isotope tracing shows that H2O is the source of oxygen transferred to PPh3.