Oxidation catalysts produced by catalytic oxidation: preparation, reactivity and X-ray crystals structures of [WO(O2)2(pyO)2] and [MoO(O2)2(pyO)2]

The X-ray crystal structures of the pentagonal bipyramidal title complexes are reported (pyO = pyridine-N-oxide); these complexes were made by the oxidation by H2O2 of pyridine, catalysed by [MoO4]2– and [WO4]2–, and are themselves catalysts for oxidations by H2O2.