A bifurcated pathway of oxygen atom transfer reactions from a monooxo molybdenum(VI) complex under electrospray ionisation mass spectrometric conditions.

A stable molybdenum(V) complex, LMoOCl2(where L is hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate), has been oxidized under mass spectrometric conditions. The oxidized species reacts with tertiary phosphines and the products have been detected by mass spectrometry. The product distribution has been followed by isotope labeling experiments, and energy dependent electrospray mass spectrometry. These experiments reveal not only oxygen atom transfer but also loss of a chlorine atom from the resulting species.