Reactivity of neutral Mo(S2C6H4)3 in aqueous media: an alternative functional model of sulfite oxidase.

The kinetics of the reaction of neutral [Mo(S2C6H4)3] with hydrogen sulfite to produce the anionic Mo(V) complex, [Mo(S2C6H4)3]-, and sulfate have been investigated. It has been shown that [Mo(S2C6H4)3] acts as the electron-proton sink in the oxygenation reaction of HSO3(-) by water. Reaction rates, monitored by UV/vis stopped-flow spectrometry, were studied in THF/water media as a function of the concentration of HSO3(-) and molybdenum complex, pH, ionic strength, and temperature. The reaction exhibits pH-dependent HSO3(-) saturation kinetics, and it is first-order in complex concentration. The kinetic data and MS-ESI spectra are consistent with the formation of [Mo O(S2C6H4)2(S2C6H5)]- (1) adduct as a crucial intermediate that transfers the oxygen atom to HSO3(-) yielding the Mo(V) species quantitatively.