PPh 4 ) 2 [MoO(O 2 ) 2 (SHAH)]ÁH 2 O and PPh 4 [MoO-(O 2 ) 2 (HBA)] (SHAH 3 = 2-hydroxybenzohydroxamic acid and HBAH = 2-hydroxybenzoic acid) have been synthesized and characterized by physico-chemical and spectroscopic methods. In addition, the second complex has been structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. We have compared the catalytic activities of these two new complexes, together with the previously reported PPh 4 [MoO(O 2 ) 2 (BZ)] (BZH = benzoic acid), with respect to the epoxidation of alkenes. The hydroxamate complex is the most efficient catalyst among the three complexes, showing excellent catalytic activity for the substrates cyclohexene, cyclooctene, cinnamyl alcohol, pent-4-en-1-ol and hex-1-ene.