Cover Feature: A Structurally Characterized Cu^III Complex Supported by a Bis(anilido) Ligand and Its Oxidative Catalytic Activity (Chem. Eur. J. 56/2017)

CuII and CuIII complexes were synthesized from an anilinosalen ligand. A metal-centered single oxidation was ascertained by X-ray diffraction, which shows a contraction of the coordination sphere by around 0.05 Å. The CuIII complex exhibits an unprecedented NIR band, which arises from an anilido-to-copper charge transfer. This complex catalyzes the aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol under basic conditions very efficiently. It is in fact more active than galactose oxidase models based on CuII-phenoxyl salen complexes (valence tautomer), showing that the electronic structure is not a key factor in governing the reactivity. More information can be found in the Full Paper by F. Thomas et al. on page 13929.