The Synthesis of Biomimetic Tungsten and Molybdenum Complexes

The synthesis of novel biornimetic molybdenum and tungsten compounds that are potential model complexes for molybdenum and tungsten oxidase enzymes is being pursued. Model complexes such as these provide a bener understanding of the basic chemistry of a metal center in an environmeot similar to that found in particular enzyme active sites. This understanding provides a good Starting point [or biologists or biochemists studying those biological systems. The first target complex will incorporate a tetradentate-S4 ligand (L) that features two biphenyl-S2 fragments joined by a propyl linker. The second target complex will incorporate a bidentate ligand (L') with a singly alkylated biphenyl-S2 framework. The synthetic strategies to make the protonated ligand precursors LH2 and L'H are discussed in detail along with initial results from a reaction between L'H and a molybdenum(Vl) metal complex.