A copper(II) complex with rare μ1,1,1-azide ligand: Active catalyst for heterogeneous olefin epoxidation

A copper(II) complex [Cu2L(μ1,1-N3)(μ1,3-N3)(μ1,1,1-N3)] (1) where HL = 4-methyl-2,6-bis(phenylmethyliminomethyl)phenol, with N2O donor ligand was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR spectra and X-ray crystallography. X-ray crystallographic study reveals that it is a 1D chain along crystallographic b axis and the existence of rare μ1,1,1-azide bridging mode. The complex was immobilized on mesoporous silica and the immobilized compound was used as the active catalyst for the oxidation of olefins using tert-butyl hydroperoxide as oxidant. The results show that corresponding epoxides were produced in high yield with high selectivity.