Copper-catalyzed oxygenation of 3-hydroxy-2-phenylquinolin-4(1H)-one: Synthesis, structure and spectral properties of [Cu(idpa)(N-baa)]ClO4, [idpa = 3,3′-iminobis(N,N-dimethylpropylamine), N-baaH = N-benzoylanthranilic acid]

Reaction of one molar equivalent of 3,3′-iminobis(N,N-dimethylpropylamine (idpa)), N-benzoylanthranilic acid (N-baaH) and [Cu(CH3CN)4](ClO4) in acetonitrile resulted in the formation of a stable ionic copper(II) complex without additional solvent coordination. The composition and molecular structure of [Cu(idpa)(N-baa)]ClO4 was fully determined by IR, UV–vis, and X-ray crystal analysis. The complex has a distorted square planar CuN3O core. The oxygenation of 3-hydroxy-2-phenylquinolin-4(1H)-one (QuinH2) using [Cu(idpa)(N-baa)]ClO4 as a catalyst results in the oxidative cleavage of the heterocyclic ring to give a N-benzoylanthranilic acid and CO as a mimic of quercetinase and 3-hydroxy-1,4-dihydroquinolin-4-one 2,4-dioxygenase action.