Abstract

Due to their relevance in biological processes, molybdenum-catalyzed oxygen-transfer reactions have attracted considerable interest. In this context, some dioxomolybdenum(VI) complexes, with the cis-[MoO2]2+ core, that mimic oxotransferases, have been found to be efficient catalysts for several oxidation and reduction reactions in organic synthesis. More recently, the utility of these molybdenum( VI) complexes has been extended to other processes such as hydrosilylation reactions and, due to the amphoteric character of the Mo=O unit, to some Lewis acid-Lewis base conjugate catalyzed reactions.

Keywords: Molybdenum, catalysis, oxygen atom transfer, hydrosilylation, amphoteric catalysts