Structural comparison of oxobis(benzene-1,2-dithiolato)molybdenum-(V) and -(IV) complexes

Abstract

The [MoO(bdt)₂]^–/[MoO(bdt)₂]^2–(H₂bdt = benzene-1,2-dithiol) redox couple, in dimethylformamide solution, is a fully reversible process at E_½=–350 mV vs. standard calomel electrode and each of these anions has been characterised by X-ray crystallography; the metal–ligand bond lengths of the former are slightly shorter than those of the latter, Mo^V-O = 1.668(3)Å, Mo^IV–O = 1.699(6)Å, mean Mo^V–S = 2.377(1)Å, Mo^IV–S = 2.388(2)Å.