Effect of Two Isomeric Tetrapyrazolyl Ligands on the Catalytic Oxidation of 3,5-ditert-Butylcatechol

Copper(II) salts were combined with a tetrapyrazolyl ligand ({N,N,N’,N’-tetrakis-[(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)methyl)-1,4-phenylenediamine}L1 or {N,N,N’,N’-tetrakis-[(1,5-dimethylpyrazol-3-yl)methyl)-1,4-phenylenediamine}L2) and assessed as oxidation catalysts. The corresponding dioxygen complexes were generated in situ by mixing the copper salt and the pyrazolyl donor ligand in air. The oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol (DTBC), which affords 3,5-di-tert-butylquinone (DTBQ), was studied. The reaction rate was found to depend essentially on the nature of the junction linking two pyrazolyl neighbours.