Oxomolybdenum tetrathiolates with sterically encumbering ligands: Modeling the effect of a protein matrix on electronic structure and reduction potentials

The effect of sterically encumbering ligands on the electronic structure of three para-substituted oxomolybdenum tetrathiolate complexes was determined using spectroscopy techniques. The spectra show that the observed reduction potential differences in these complexes are not a result of changes in the electronic structure of the [MoOS(sub 4)](super -) site.