Synthesis, crystal structure, spectral and magnetic studies and catecholase activity of copper(II) complexes with di- and tri-podal ligands

Five complexes of copper(II) acetate with Schiff base ligands based on salicylaldehyde and N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl/propyl amine and their reduced products, have been synthesized and characterized by various spectroscopic methods. The solid state structures of 1, 2 and 3 have been determined using single crystal X-ray diffraction method. The structures of the other two compounds have been proposed on the basis of spectroscopic and physical methods. The compounds 1, 3 and 4 are dinuclear complexes of the tridentate ligands, where the two Cu(II) centers have square pyramidal geometry with bridging acetate or phenoxo groups. Each arm of the tripodand ligand forms a mononuclear, magnetically dilute complex 5 having five coordinated Cu(II) ions. Complex 2 is mononuclear with a square pyramidal stereochemistry. The catalytic performance of the oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol to quinone was studied using UV–Vis absorption spectral methods. Complex 4 exhibits the highest activity with a turnover number of 41 h−1 while other showed lower rates of oxidation. A kinetic treatment on the basis of Michaelis–Menten model was applied. Ease of removal of the exogenous acetate ligands and easy access to the Cu(II) ions have been seen to affect the activity in the complexes. At the same time presence of two endogenous phenoxo bridges in the dinuclear complexes reduces the activity.