Molybdenum Hexacarbonyl [Mo(CO)6]

Spotlight on molybdenum hexacarbonyl [Mo(CO)6], a stable crystalline solid with an octahedral geometry. Generally prepared by reductive carbonylation of molybdenum halides, or is obtained from commercial sources, Mo(CO)6 finds use as catalyst or reagent in several processes, by itself or tuning its reactivity by ligand exchange. Replacement of the carbonyl ligands by both p and s donors affords a large number of different molybdenum complexes which have found use in organic synthesis. The use of chiral ligands allows high levels of regio- and enantioselectivity to be attained.