Synthesis, structural characterization and catalytic activities of dicopper(II) complexes derived from tridentate pyrazole‐based N2O ligands

Abstract

AbstractA group of a diverse family of dinuclear copper(II) complexes derived from pyrazole‐containing tridentate N2O ligands, 1,3‐bis(3,5‐dimethylpyrazol‐1‐yl)propan‐2‐ol (Hdmpzpo), 1,3‐bis(3‐phenyl‐5‐methyl pyrazol‐1‐yl)propan‐2‐ol (Hpmpzpo) and 1,3‐bis(3‐cumyl‐5‐methylpyrazol‐1‐yl)propan‐2‐ol (Hcmpzpo), were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy and three of them also by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Three complexes, [Cu2(pmpzpo)2](NO3)2·2CH3OH (3·2CH3OH), [Cu2(pmpzpo)2](ClO4)2 (4) and [Cu2(cmpzpo)2](ClO4)2·2DMF (7·2DMF), each exhibits a dimeric structure with a inversion center being located between the two copper atoms. The metal ion is coordinated in a distorted square planar environment by two pyrazole nitrogen atoms and two bridging alkoxo oxygen atoms. Both complexes 1·CH3OH·H2O and 3·2CH3OH were investigated in anaerobic conditions for the catalytic oxidation of 3,5‐di‐tert‐butylcatechol (3,5‐DTBC) to the corresponding quinone (3,5‐DTBQ), for modeling the functional properties of catechol oxidase. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.