Light-Initiated C–H Activation via Net Hydrogen Atom Transfer to a Molybdenum(VI) Dioxo

MoO2Cl2(bpy-tBu) (1) is shown to be a potent one-electron oxidant upon irradiation with 365 nm light in various solvents, while being a weak two-electron oxidant in the dark. Complex 1 is characterized to activate various types of C–H bonds photochemically, including allylic and benzylic positions as well as alkanes and aldehydes. In all of these oxidations, 1 ultimately forms a bimetallic Mo(V)/Mo(V) species with a μ-oxo ligand (2). Depending on the substrate, the major organic product is identified as either an oxygenated or a C–C coupled (homodimerized) compound along with a minor chlorinated species. The product selectivity is proposed to be dependent upon the relative values between the bond dissociation enthalpy (BDE) of a potentially new C–OH bond within the product versus the BDE of a Mo–OH motif within a Mo(V)O(OH) intermediate. Based on this, we can estimate the BDE for Mo–OH to be 83–93 kcal/mol. Mechanistic studies suggest that the C–H activation occurs via a net hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) from 1* occurring either asynchronously or via a stepwise electron–proton transfer (ET–PT) process. Complex 2 is further demonstrated to reform dioxo 1 in the presence of chemical oxidants.