Ligand Degradation Study of Unsymmetrical β-Diketiminato Copper Dioxygen Adducts: The Length Chelating Arm Effect

An investigation on the reactivity of O₂ binding to unsymmetrical β-diketiminato copper(I) complexes by spectroscopic and titration analysis was performed. The length of chelating pyridyl arms (pyridylmethyl arm vs pyridylethyl arm) leads to the formation of mono- or di-nuclear copper-dioxygen species at -80 °C. The pyridylmethyl arm adduct (L₁CuO₂) forms mononuclear copper-oxygen species and shows ligand degradation, resulting in the formation of (2E,3Z)-N-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-4-(((E)-pyridin-2-ylmethylene)amino)pent-3-en-2-imine, which slowly converts to its cyclization isomer 1-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-4,6-dimethyl-2-(pyridin-2-yl)-1,2-dihydropyrimidine after addition of NH₄OH at room temperature. On the other hand, the pyridylethyl arm adduct [(L₂Cu)₂(μ-O)₂] forms dinuclear species at -80 °C and does not show any ligand degradation product. Instead, free ligand formation was observed after the addition of NH₄OH. These experimental observations and product analysis results indicate that the chelating length of pyridyl arms governs the Cu/O₂ binding ratio and the ligand degradation behavior.

Mechanistic Investigations into the Selective Reduction of Oxygen by a Multicopper Oxidase T3 Site-Inspired Dicopper Complex

Understanding how multicopper oxidases (MCOs) reduce oxygen in the trinuclear copper cluster (TNC) is of great importance for development of catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Herein, we report a mechanistic investigation into the ORR activity of the dinuclear copper complex [Cu₂L(μ-OH)]³⁺ (L = 2,7-bis[bis(2-pyridylmethyl)aminomethyl]-1,8-naphthyridine). This complex is inspired by the dinuclear T3 site found in the MCO active site and confines the Cu centers in a rigid scaffold. We show that the electrochemical reduction of [Cu₂L(μ-OH)]³⁺ follows a proton-coupled electron transfer pathway and requires a larger overpotential due to the presence of the Cu-OH-Cu motif. In addition, we provide evidence that metal-metal cooperativity takes place during catalysis that is facilitated by the constraints of the rigid ligand framework, by identification of key intermediates along the catalytic cycle of [Cu₂L(μ-OH)]³⁺ . Electrochemical studies show that the mechanisms of the ORR and hydrogen peroxide reduction reaction found for [Cu₂L(μ-OH)]³⁺ differ from the ones found for analogous mononuclear copper catalysts. In addition, the metal-metal cooperativity results in an improved selectivity for the four-electron ORR of more than 70% because reaction intermediates can be stabilized better between both copper centers. Overall, the mechanism of the [Cu₂L(μ-OH)]³⁺ -catalyzed ORR in this work contributes to the understanding of how the cooperative function of multiple metals in close proximity can affect ORR activity and selectivity.

Ascorbyl and hydroxyl radical generation mediated by a copper complex adsorbed on gold

Electrochemistry, nuclease assays, and EPR were used to detect ascorbyl and hydroxyl radical generation by a copper complex adsorbed on gold.

Tuning the reactivity of copper complexes supported by tridentate ligands leading to two-electron reduction of dioxygen

Dinuclear copper complex with tridentate ligand and anthracene linkage catalyses 2-electron reduction of O₂.

Design and synthesis of a dinucleating ligand system with varying terminal donor functions that provides no bridging donor and its application to the synthesis of a series of FeIII–μ-O–FeIII complexes

We have developed the dinucleating ligands H₄julia, susan, and H₄hilde^Me2 and present their μ-oxo diferric complexes.