Siderophores molybdenum

A linear bis(catecholamide), analogue of the naturally occurring siderophore (40), has been synthesized by the azolide method and its complexation with molybdenum investigated.51 Thermodynamic and kinetic studies on the flexible ligand (41), able to form a homochiral Fe2(41)3 dinuclear iron(II) complex, were undertaken for a better understanding of the self-assembling processes.52... 

Iron is transported in forms in which it is tightly complexed to small chelators called siderophores (microorganisms) or to proteins called transferrins (animals) or to citrate or mugeneic acid (plants). The problem of how the iron is released in a controlled fashion is largely unresolved. The process of mineral formation, called biomineralization, is a subject of active investigation. Vanadium and molybdenum are transported as stable anions. Zinc and copper appear to be transported loosely associated with peptides or proteins (plants) and possibly mugeneic acid in plants. Much remains to be learned about the biological transport of nonferrous metal ions. 

Duhme, A.K. Hider. R.C. Naldrett. M.J. Pau, R.N. The stability of the molybdenum-azotochelin complex and its effect on siderophore production in Azotobacter vinelandii. J. Biol. Inorg. Chem. 1998. 3, 520-526. 

---