A non-classical hydrogen bond in the molybdenum arene complex [η6-C6H5C6H3(Ph)OH]Mo(PMe3)3: evidence that hydrogen bonding facilitates oxidative addition of the O–H bond

Mo(PMe3)6 reacts with 2,6-Ph2C6H3OH to give the η6-arene complex [η6-C6H5C6H3(Ph)OH]Mo(PMe3)3 which exhibits a non-classical Mo⋯H–OAr hydrogen bond; DFT calculations indicate that the hydrogen bonding interaction facilitates oxidative addition of the O–H bond to give [η6,η1-C6H5C6H3(Ph)O]Mo(PMe3)2H.