Tuning the catecholase activity of bis(pyrazolyl)methane-based copper(II) complexes by substitutions of the ligand core: unraveling a dual O2/H2O2 oxidation mechanism

Five new dinuclear copper(II) complexes based on dicompartmental ligands of the general formula R1R2R1-C6(OH)[C(O)-NH-CH2-CH(pz)2]2 (pz = pyrazolyl ring, R1 = R2 = H: HHH-Cu2; R1 = H, R2 = t-Bu: HButH-Cu2; R1 = Me, R2 = H: MeHMe-Cu2; R1 = Me, R2 = Br: MeBrMe-Cu2; R1 = Me, R2 = NO2: MeNO2Me-Cu2) were prepared and characterized in both solution and solid state. The phenoxide moiety acts as a bridge between two copper(II) centers; the remaining coordination sites of the metals are filled by the deprotonated N-amide atoms, the nitrogen atoms originating from the bis(pyrazolyl)methane groups and one exogenous hydroxide bridge. The catecholase-type activity of these dicopper complexes was studied in methanol, using a combination of aerobic and anaerobic methods. These investigations revealed that the substitution pattern of the central arene ring has an impact on the catalytic activity of our complexes, with the catalytic activity increasing in the following order: HHH-Cu2 更多