Peroxomolybdenum Complexes as Epoxidation Catalysts in Biphasic Hydrogen Peroxide Activation: Raman Spectroscopic Studies and Density Functional Calculations

Simple peroxomolybdenum Mimoun complexes become catalytically active in phase-transfer epoxidations with hydrogen peroxide, if the active oxenoid is extracted from the water into the organic phase by surfactant-type ligands OER3 (E = N, P, As; R = long-chain alkyl; see scheme). Mechanistic studies, Raman spectroscopy, and denisty functional calculations are combined in an investigation of the active species.