Synthesis and reactivity of (μ-η2:η2-peroxo)dicopper(II) complexes with dinucleating ligands: Hydroxylation of xylyl linker with a NIH shift

New hexadentate dinucleating ligands having a xylyl linker, X–L–R, were synthesized, where X–L–R = 1,3-bis[bis(6-methyl-2-pyridylmethyl)aminomethyl]-2,4,6-trimethybenzene (Me2–L–Me) and 1,3-bis[bis(6-methyl-2-pyridylmethyl)aminomethyl]-2-fluorobenzene (H–L–F). They form dinuclear copper(I) complexes, [Cu2(X–L–R)]2+ (Me2–L–Me (1) and H–L–F (2)). The copper(I) complexes in acetone at −78 °C react with O2 to produce intra- and intermolecular (μ-η2:η2-peroxo)dicopper(II) species depending on the concentrations of the complexes: both complexes generate intramolecular (μ-η2:η2-peroxo)dicopper(II) species [Cu2(O2)(X–L–R)]2+ (1-O2 and 2-O2) at the concentrations below ∼5 mM, whereas at ∼60 mM, both complexes produce intermolecular (μ-η2:η2-peroxo)dicopper(II) species, which were confirmed by the electronic and resonance Raman spectroscopies. The electronic spectrum of 1-O2 in acetone at concentrations below ∼5 mM showed an absorption band at (λ max = 442 nm, ε = 5600 M−1 cm−1) assignable to the View the MathML sourceπσ∗(O–O)-to-Cu(II) ((dx2-y2+dx2-y2)(dx2-y2+dx2-y2) component) LMCT transition in addition to an intense band attributable to the View the MathML sourceπσ∗(O–O)-to-Cu(II) ((dx2-y2-dx2-y2)(dx2-y2-dx2-y2) component) LMCT transition (λmax = 359 nm, ε = 21000 M−1 cm−1), indicating that the (μ-η2:η2-peroxo)Cu(II)2 core of 1-O2 takes a butterfly structure. Decomposition of 1-O2 resulted in hydroxylation of the 2-position of the xylyl linker with 1,2-methyl migration (NIH shift), suggesting that the hydroxylation reaction proceeds via a cationic intermediate as proposed for closely related (μ-η2:η2-peroxo)Cu(II)2 complexes having a xylyl linker. Kinetic study of the decomposition (hydroxylation of the xylyl linker) of 1-O2 suggests that a stereochemical effect of the methyl group in the 2-position of the xylyl linker has a significant influence on a transition state for decomposition (hydroxylation of the xylyl linker).