Electrosynthesis, characterization and studies of reactivity of some highly peroxygenated vanadium(V) complexes

Peroxo complexes of vanadium, viz. K[VO(O2)2(H2O)], K[V(O2)3]·3H2O, LH2[VO(O2)2L]2·6H2O, H[VO(O2)2L] (L = 2,2′-bipyridine or 1,10-phenanthroline) and K3[VO(O2)2(C2O4)]·H2O have been synthesized electrochemically using a sacrificial vanadium anode in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The heteroligand complexes were precipitated by the addition of the ligands, while the others are precipitated out with ethanol after adjustment of pH. The compounds have also been prepared by the dissolution of the metal powder in hydrogen peroxide. They have been characterized by elemental analysis and vibrational spectra. Studies on the oxidizing reactivity of some of the complexes towards various organic substrates, viz. aniline, 1,4-dihydroxybenzene, o-cresol, triphenylphosphine, triphenylarsine, etc. have been carried out.