An ionic Cu9Na4-phenylsilsesquioxane/bis(triphenylphosphine)iminium complex: synthesis, unique structure, and catalytic activity

The synthesis of a high nuclear (Cu9Na4) complex 1via the self-assembly of copper(II) phenylsilsesquioxane induced by complexation with bis(triphenylphosphine)iminium chloride (PPNCl) was successfully achieved. This complex, which includes two bis(triphenylphosphine)iminium PPN+ cations, represents the first example of a metallasilsesquioxane/phosphazene compound. The Cu9Na4-silsesquioxane cage demonstrates a nontrivial combination of two pairs of Si6-cyclic/Si4-acyclic silsesquioxane ligands and a fusion of two Si10Cu4Na2 fragments, combined via the central ninth copper ion. The catalytic efficacy of the copper(II) compound (1) was evaluated through the peroxidative oxidation of toluene using tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BuOOH) as the oxidant. The primary oxidation products were benzaldehyde (BAL), benzyl alcohol (BOL), and benzoic acid (BAC), with BAC being the predominant product, especially in acetonitrile (NCMe). The formation of cresols, indicating oxidation at the aromatic ring, was observed only in water and under microwave irradiation (MW) in NCMe. Remarkably, the highest total yield of 40.3% was achieved in water with an acidic additive at 80 °C, highlighting the crucial role of the acid additive in enhancing reaction efficiency and selectivity. This study underscores our copper(II) complex as a highly effective catalyst for toluene oxidation, demonstrating its significant potential for fine-tuning reaction parameters to optimize yields and selectivity. The unprecedented structure of the complex and its promising catalytic performance pave the way for further advancements in the fields of metallasilsesquioxane chemistry and catalysis.

In Situ-Generated CuI Catalytic System for Oxidative N-Formylation of N-Heterocycles and Acyclic Amines with Methanol

The development of a sustainable and simple catalytic system for N-formylation of N-heterocycles with methanol by direct coupling remains a challenge, owing to many competing side reactions, given the sensitivity of N-heterocycles to many catalytic oxidation or dehydrogenation systems. This work concerns the development of an in situ-generated Cu^I catalytic system for oxidative N-formylation of N-heterocycles with methanol that is based on the case study of a more typical 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline as substrate. Aside from N-heterocycles, some acyclic amines are also transformed into the corresponding N-formamides in moderate yields. Furthermore, a probable reaction mechanism and reaction pathway are proposed and extension of work based on some findings leads to a demonstration that the formed ⋅O₂ ^- and ⋅OOH radicals in the catalytic system is related to the formation of undesired tar-like products.

Peroxidative Oxidation of Cyclohexane Using 3d Metal Complexes with Hydrazone-Derived Ligands as Catalysts: Exploring (Un)Conventional Conditions

Two tetranuclear and two mononuclear Cu(II) complexes with arylhydrazones of malononitrile derived ligands (compounds 1–2 and 3–4, respectively), one trinuclear Co(II/III) complex with an arylhydrazone of acetoacetanilide (5) and one tetranuclear Zn(II) complex of 3-(2-carboxyphenyl-hydrazone)pentane-2,4-dione (6) were screened as potential catalysts in the peroxidative oxidation of cyclohexane by aqueous H2O2 in acetonitrile. The best results were attained in the presence of pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid (PCA) with 1 (26% yield, TON = 52.0) and with 2 (24%, TON = 48.0) after 4 h at 40 °C. In the presence of complexes 5 and 6, no oxygenated products were detected in the studied conditions. The employment of non-conventional conditions like supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) as reaction medium or microwave (MW) irradiation was assessed for complexes 1 and 2. After 6 h in acetonitrile–scCO2, at 50 °C and with HNO3 as promoter, only 17% yield was achieved using 1 as catalyst, and 21% using 2. Total yields of oxygenates up to 14 (with 1) and 13% (2) and TOFs of 56.0 and 52.0 h−1, respectively, were obtained working under MW irradiation at 70 °C and for the much shorter time of 0.5 h.

Versatility of the bis(iminopyrrolylmethyl)amine ligand: tautomerism, protonation, helical chirality, and the secondary coordination sphere with halogen bonds in the formation of copper(II) and nickel(II) complexes

The reaction of N,N-di(2,6-bis(isopropyl)phenylimino-pyrrolyl-α-methyl)-N-methylamine H2L1 with copper(i) sources such as CuX (X = Cl (1), Br (2), and I (3)) afforded bis(chelated) ionic copper(ii) complexes of the type [CuL1H]X. A similar type of mononuclear structure was obtained with Cu(NO3)2·(H2O)3. Conversely, binuclear copper(ii) complexes [Cu2(μ-L1)(μ-OOCCH3)(μ-OH)](4) and [Cu2(μ-L1H)(μ-OOCPh)(μ-O)] (5) were obtained from the reaction of Cu(O2CR)2·H2O with H2L1. Notably, these reactions in the presence of a base yielded the neutral copper(ii) complex [CuL1] (6). This product was also obtained from the reaction of complex 2 or 4 with NaOH in methanol. All structures feature a dianionic imino-pyrrole motif and a protonated central amine function except 4. The reaction of H2L1 with NiCl2·DME gave the mononuclear complex [NiCl2(L1H2)], 7. In contrast to this, the reaction of the newly synthesized sterically less encumbered ligand N,N-di(phenylimino-pyrrolyl-α-methyl)-N-methylamine H2L2 with NiCl2·DME gave the binuclear complex [NiCl(L2H2)(HOMe)]2[Cl]2 (8). Both 7 and 8 show the amine-azafulvene ligand form and coordination of the central amine. The reaction of complex 7 with NaHBEt3 yielded a neutral complex [NiL1] (8) containing the imino-pyrrole form. In the molecular structures, interesting secondary coordination spheres incorporating guest molecules such as CHCl3 and MeOH in the crystal lattices and the presence of helical enantiomers were observed and analysed. In one case, CHCl3 was found inside an unusual cage-like structure supported by halogen bonds. Preliminary DFT calculations on the geometry of the nickel complex with H2L1 showed that the pentacoordinated tbp geometry is more stable than the square planar geometry.

Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of (aqua-κO)(methanol-κO)[N-(2-oxido-benzyl-idene)threoninato-κ3 O,N,O']copper(II)

In the title complex mol-ecule, [Cu(C11H11NO4)(CH4O)(H2O)], the Cu atom is coordinated in a distorted square-pyramidal geometry by a tridentate ligand synthesized from l-threonine and salicyl-aldehyde, one methanol mol-ecule and one water mol-ecule. In the crystal, the mol-ecules show intra- and inter-molecular O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the most important contributions to the packing are H⋯H (49.4%) and H⋯O/O⋯H (31.3%) contacts.

Syntheses, Structures, and Catalytic Hydrocarbon Oxidation Properties of N-Heterocycle-Sulfonated Schiff Base Copper(II) Complexes

Reaction of the o-[(o-hydroxyphenyl)methylideneamino]benzenesulfonic acid (H2L) (1) with CuCl2·2H2O in the presence of pyridine (py) leads to [Cu(L)(py)(EtOH)] (2) which, upon further reaction with 2,2’-bipyridine (bipy), pyrazine (pyr), or piperazine (pip), forms [Cu(L)(bipy)]·MeOH (3), [Cu2(L)2(μ-pyr)(MeOH)2] (4), or [Cu2(L)2(μ-pip)(MeOH)2] (5), respectively. The Schiff base (1) and the metal complexes (2–5) are stabilized by a number of non-covalent interactions to form interesting H-bonded multidimensional polymeric networks (except 3), such as zigzag 1D chain (in 1), linear 1D chain (in 2), hacksaw double chain 1D (in 4) and 2D motifs (in 5). These copper(II) complexes (2–5) catalyze the peroxidative oxidation of cyclic hydrocarbons (cyclooctane, cyclohexane, and cyclohexene) to the corresponding products (alcohol and ketone from alkane; alcohols, ketone, and epoxide from alkene), under mild conditions. For the oxidation of cyclooctane with hydrogen peroxide as oxidant, used as a model reaction, the best yields were generally achieved for complex 3 in the absence of any promoter (20%) or in the presence of py or HNO3 (26% or 30%, respectively), whereas 2 displayed the highest catalytic activity in the presence of HNO3 (35%). While the catalytic reactions were significantly faster with py, the best product yields were achieved with the acidic additive.

Solid-state structure and antimicrobial and cytotoxicity studies of a cucurbit[6]uril-like Cu6L4 constructed from 3,5-bis[(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)methyl]-4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-amine

3,5-Bis[(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)methyl]-4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-amine (H₂L) associates under deprotonation with CuSO₄ in aqueous medium to form a new waisted barrel-shaped M₆L₄ cluster, namely hexaaquatetrakis{μ₄-3,5-bis[(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)methyl]-4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-amine}-μ₄-sulfato-hexacopper(II) sulfate hydrate, [Cu₆(SO₄)(C₆H₆N₁₂)₄(H₂O)₆]SO₄·nH₂O (n = ∼23) (1). Cluster 1 resembles concave cucurbit[6]uril and has one disordered sulfate anion trapped inside the cage, which additionally stabilizes the Cu₆ unit. The Cu^II ions have either a square-pyramidal or a distorted octahedral geometry. The equatorial positions are filled by N atoms from the L^2- ligand, while the axial positions are occupied by coordinated water molecules and O atoms of the sulfate counter-ion. In the solid state, the Cu₆ clusters are connected through a large number of hydrogen bonds formed by uncoordinated water molecules and an additional sulfate anion. The compound shows good antimicrobial activity against E. coli tested with the Kirby Bauer approach. In addition, the cell viability towards HeLa and L-929 cells was studied.

The Effects of Coordinated Molecules of Two Gly-Schiff Base Copper Complexes on Their Oxygen Reduction Reaction Performance

In this study, two simple Schiff base copper complexes [Cu(H2O)2(HL)]·2H2O (Complex 1) (H3L = 2-OH-4-(OH)-C6H2CH=NCH2CO2H) and [Cu(py)2(HL)] (Complex 2) (Py = pyridine) were initially achieved and authenticated by single-crystal X-ray structure analyses (SXRD), powder X-ray diffraction analyses (PXRD), FT-IR spectroscopy, and elemental analyses. The SXRD reveals that the Cu2+ center in Complex 1 exhibited a distorted square pyramidal geometry, which is constructed based on phenolate oxygen, water molecules, carboxylate oxygen, and imine nitrogen from a deprotonated H3L ligand in an NO4 fashion. The Cu2+ atom in Complex 2 had distorted square pyramidal geometry, and was coordinated with two pyridine molecules and one Gly-Schiff base ligand, exhibiting an N3O2 binding set. Additionally, the free water molecules in Complex 1 linked independent copper complexes by intermolecular hydrogen bond to form a 2D framework. However, the one-dimensional chain supramolecular structure of Complex 2 was formed by the intermolecular O–H…O hydrogen bonds. The oxygen reduction performance of the two complexes was analyzed by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and the rotating disk electrode (RDE) method. Both complexes could catalyze the conversion of oxygen to water through a predominant four-electron pathway, and the Cu–NxOy moieties might be the functional moieties for the catalytic activity. The catalytic pathways and underlying mechanisms are also discussed in detail, from which the structure–activity relationship of the complexes was obtained.

Cu(ii) Schiff base complex intercalated into layered double hydroxide for selective oxidation of ethylbenzene under solvent-free conditions

A new heterogeneous catalyst was prepared by intercalation of NNOO donor Cu(ii) Schiff base complex derived from 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde and 4-amino benzoic acid into Zn–Al layered double hydroxide {LDH-[NAPABA–Cu(ii)]}. Synthesized catalyst was characterized by Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Transmission electron microscopy, BET surface area, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermo-gravimetric analysis, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and diffuse reflectance UV-visible spectroscopy. The catalytic performance of LDH-[NAPABA–Cu(ii)] was studied for the liquid phase solvent-free oxidation of ethylbenzene at 393 K, using tert-butylhydroperoxide as an oxidant. In oxidation reaction ethylbenzene was oxidized to acetophenone, benzaldehyde and benzoic acid. The major product was acetophenone. A maximum, 80.54% conversion of ethylbenzene was observed after 7 hours. The catalyst was recycled seven times without significant loss of catalytic activity.

A heterogeneous catalytic system, LDH-[NAPABA–Cu(ii)]/TBHP gave maximum 80.54% conversion and 99.60% selectivity for acetophenone in oxidation of ethylbenzene and catalyst can be reused for seven cycles.

A new preparation of a bifunctional crystalline heterogeneous copper electrocatalyst by electrodeposition using a Robson-type macrocyclic dinuclear copper complex for efficient hydrogen and oxygen evolution from water

Electro-deposited Cu(OH)₂/Cu₂O-based thin film on FTO with the macrocyclic dicopper complex shows excellent water splitting activity in excellent Faradaic efficiency.

Mono-, tri- and polynuclear copper(ii) complexes of Schiff-base ligands: synthesis, characterization and catalytic activity towards alcohol oxidation

A mononuclear copper(ii) complex acts as a superior catalyst compared to a tri- or polynuclear complex towards oxidation of alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes.

Metal-Organic Frameworks as Catalysts for Oxidation Reactions

This Concept is aimed at describing the current state of the art in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as heterogeneous catalysts for liquid-phase oxidations, focusing on three important substrates, namely, alkenes, alkanes and alcohols. Emphases are on the nature of active sites that have been incorporated within MOFs and on future targets to be set in this area. Thus, selective alkene epoxidation with peroxides or oxygen catalyzed by constitutional metal nodes of MOFs as active sites are still to be developed. Moreover, no noble metal-free MOF has been reported to date that can act as a general catalyst for the aerobic oxidation of primary and secondary aliphatic alcohols. In contrast, in the case of alkanes, a target should be to tune the polarity of MOF internal pores to control the outcome of the autooxidation process, resulting in the selective formation of alcohol/ketone mixtures at high conversion.

Re-evaluating selectivity as a determining factor in peroxidative methane oxidation by multimetallic copper complexes

A series of multimetallic copper(ii) complexes have been re-investigated for methane oxidation with H₂O₂.

Two types of nitrito support for μ4-oxido-bridged [Cu4] complexes: synthesis, crystal structures, magnetic properties and DFT analysis

In situ generated NO₂⁻ and externally added NO₂⁻ and AcO⁻ ions have been utilized for the isolation of μ₄-oxido-bridged Cu₄ aggregates showing magnetic coupling which can be rationalized by DFT calculations.

Mono- and tetra-nuclear copper complexes bearing bis(imino)phenoxide derived ligands: catalytic evaluation for benzene oxidation and ROP of ε-caprolactone

Mono- and tetra-nuclear copper bis(imino)phenoxide complexes have been evaluated as catalysts for benzene oxidation and ROP of ε-caprolactone.

Alkane oxidation with peroxides catalyzed by cage-like copper(ii) silsesquioxanes

Copper(ii) silsesquioxanes [(PhSiO_1.5)₁₂(CuO)₄(NaO_0.5)₄] or [(PhSiO_1.5)₁₀(CuO)₂(NaO_0.5)₂] are catalysts for alkane oxidation with H₂O₂ort-BuOOH.

Novel tetranuclear Ni(II) Schiff base complex containing Ni4O4 cubane core: synthesis, X-ray structure, spectra and magnetic properties

Novel tetranuclear nickel(II) Schiff base complex having symmetric Ni4O4 cubane-core, [Ni4O2(OAc)2(L)2] (1) has been synthesized. Single crystal of the complex exhibits four nickel atoms in the alternate corner of the cubane and other four sites are occupied by phenolate-O and μ3-O(2-). Variable temperature magnetic moment data suggests the Ni centres are weakly antiferromagnetically coupled with J1=-4.82cm(-1) and J2=-4.83cm(-1). The electronic spectra, emission properties and life time measurement of ligand, HL and complex 1 have been studied.