A variety of complexes of rhodium, titanium and other metals are used: A mixture of ethene and butene is then heated and passed over a solid catalyst based on organic compounds of molybdenum(IV) and tungsten(IV) (the Schrock catalysts) and organo-ruthenium (II) compounds (the Grubbs’ catalysts), in a (Figure 3, route 13):Small amounts of coke are deposited on the catalyst and are removed from time to time by passing heated air through the reactor.The catalysts are also used in the (SHOP).

The objective of this research is to synthesize tetrasulfide reagents and a dimethylated pterinyl alkyne, TEA[Tp*Mo^IV(S)S₄]^– and BMOPP respectively required for the synthesis of molybdopterin. With successful and efficient experimental methodologies previously conducted by the Burgmayer lab, this research focuses on the development of a more efficient larger-scaled production of pure molybdenum tetrasulfide and BMOPP reagents. Characterization methods commonly used in this research include electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, infrared spectroscopy and NMR.

The Burgmayer group developed a successful pathway to synthesize and characterize Mo complexes particularly containing the pterinyl-dithiolene ligand where molybdenum is in both Mo(4+) and Mo(5+) oxidation states. The synthesis of molybdopterin derives from two pathways, Pathway I producing molybdenum tetrasulfide reagents (Figure 1) and Pathway II producing pterin-substituted alkynes (Figure 2).