Selenidobis(dithiolene)metal(IV) complexes (metal M = Mo, W) potentially related to the nicotinic acid hydroxylase reaction center: redox aspects in electrochemistry and oxygen atom transfer from Me3NO to M(IV) centers.

Selenidobis(dithiolene)molybdenum(IV) and -tungsten(IV) complexes were synthesized and characterized by several methods including X-ray crystallographic analysis. The five-coordinate M V =Se species were accessed by one-electron oxidation of the M IV =Se complexes. M VI =Se complexes were suggested to be formed as an intermediate in oxygen atom transfer from Me 3 NO to the M IV =Se centers.