Molybdoenzymes are found in all forms of life and catalyze a wide range of oxo-transfer or hydroxylation reactions of key importance to human health. Key to atom and electron transfer reactivity of molybdoenzymes is the transfer of protons between the molybdenum centers and the substrate or water. My research group is using synthetic model compounds to study relevant proton transfer reactions of molybdenum-oxo centers to elucidate similar fundamental chemistry occurring in molybdoenzymes. We will describe our recent synthetic and kinetic progress using the scorpionate N<sub>3</sub>-donor, dithiolene, and thiosemicarbozone ligands to provide a detailed mechanistic understanding of 1) proton-promoted product-release reactions and 2) the conversions between different molybdenum core structures.

Proton-facilitated transformations of molybdenum-oxo compounds as synthetic models for molybdoenzymes

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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