Synthesis,structure characterization and study of a new molybdenum Schiff base complex as an epoxidation catalyst with very high turnover numbers

The reaction between MoO₂(acac)₂] and an ONO type Schiff-base ligand (L = 4-bromo-2-((2-hydroxy-5-methylphenylimino)methyl)phenol) resulted a new oligomer molybdenum complex (MoO₂(L)]_n). The oligomer complex was characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies. A suitable single crystal of the complex was grown in DMSO and characterized by X-ray single crystal diffraction as monomer stabilized by one DMSO molecule, MoO2L(DMSO)]. The MoO₂(L)]_n complex was used as a catalyst in epoxidation of olefins. Besides the high activity and selectivity, very high turnover numbers were a remarkable advantage of the catalytic system.