Activation reactions of oxygen compounds by early-transition high-valent metal halides

NbF5, NbCl5, MoCl5 and WCl6 are commercial non expensive compounds, which have found large application in synthetic chemistry. However, little is still known about the direct interactions of such transition metal halides with stoichiometric amounts of organic molecules. Our recent, systematic investigation on the chemistry of NbF5, NbCl5, MoCl5 and WCl6 with oxygen donors has provided evidences of interesting and unusual features. Here we report an overview of the distinct activation routes followed by a series of simple oxygen containing molecules when contacted with the cited metal halides. The series includes natural alkoxyarenes, ketones/aldehydes, amides, and natural -aminoacids.