A reusable polymer anchored copper(II) complex catalyst for the efficient oxidation of olefins and aromatic alcohol

A new heterogeneous Schiff base copper(II) complex was prepared by reacting amino‐polystyrene with salicylaldehyde followed by complexation with cupric chloride. The structure of this immobilized complex has been established on the basis of scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), elemental analysis employing atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), and spectrometric methods like diffuse reflectance spectra of solid (DRS) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Catalytic activity of this polymer anchored Cu(II) complex was tested by studying the oxidation of cyclohexene, styrene, and benzyl alcohol in the presence of tert‐ butylhydroperoxide as oxidant. Several parameters such as solvent, oxidant, reaction time, reaction temperature, amount of catalyst, and substrates oxidant ratio were varied to optimize the reaction condition. Under optimized reaction conditions, cyclohexene gave a maximum of 74% conversion with three major products 2‐cyclohexene‐1‐one, cyclohexene epoxide, and 2‐cyclohexene‐1‐ol. The conversions of styrene and benzylalcohol proceed with 53% and 77%, respectively. Styrene gives styrene epoxide as the major product while benzylalcohol gives benzaldehyde as the major product. The catalytic results reveal that polymer anchored copper(II) Schiff base complex can be recycled more than five times without much loss in the catalytic activity. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cu(II) Schiff base complex supported on Fe3O4 nanoparticles as an efficient nanocatalyst for the selective aerobic oxidation of alcohols

Herein, we have prepared a new Cu(II) Schiff base complex supported onto the surface of modified Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles as highly stable, heterogeneous and magnetically recyclable nanocatalyst for the selective aerobic oxidation of different alcohols. The structure, morphology, chemical composition and magnetic property of the nanocatalyst and its precursors were characterized using FT‐IR, TGA, AAS, ICP‐AES, XRD, SEM, EDS, VSM and N₂ adsorption–desorption analyses. Characterization results exhibited the uniform spherical morphology for nanocatalyst and its precursors. A promising eco‐friendly method with short reaction time and high conversion and selectivity for oxidation of various primary and secondary alcohols under O₂ atmosphere condition was achieved. The synthesized nanocatalyst could be recovered easily by applying an external magnetic field and reused for least eight subsequent reaction cycles with only negligible deterioration in catalytic performance.     

Solid-supported Pd(0): an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohols into aldehydes and ketones

Solid-supported nano- and microparticles of Pd(0) (SS-Pd) were used as heterogeneous catalysts for aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohols. Primary and secondary benzyl alcohols gave the corresponding products in good yields. In addition, the catalysts could be reused up to five runs without significant loss of activities.     

Polymer‐anchored copper(II) complex: an efficient reusable catalyst for the synthesis of propargylamines

A new, heterogeneous, polymer‐supported copper(II) complex was prepared and characterized using various techniques, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, atomic absorption spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. This heterogeneous copper catalyst is efficient for the synthesis of propargylamines via a three‐component coupling reaction of aldehydes, amines and alkynes. The effect of solvent on the coupling reactions was investigated. Further, the catalyst can be easily recovered quantitatively by simple filtration and reused for a minimum number of cycles without significant loss of its catalytic activity. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Copper nanoparticles supported on polyaniline‐functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes: An efficient and recyclable catalyst for synthesis of unsymmetric sulfides using potassium ethyl xanthogenate in water

A new and powerful polyaniline‐functionalized carbon nanotube‐supported copper(II) nanoparticle catalyst was successfully prepared and evaluated as a heterogeneous catalyst for the one‐pot synthesis of unsymmetric thioethers by coupling of aryl, alkyl and benzyl halides using potassium ethyl xanthogenate as source of sulfur in water. All of these reactions gave the desired products in good to excellent yields. The catalyst is available, air‐stable and can be reused several times without significant loss in its catalytic activity.     

Novel properties from experimental charge densities: an application to the zwitterionic neurotransmitter taurine

The charge distribution of taurine (2-aminoethane-sulfonic acid) is revisited by using an orbital-based method that describes the density in a fixed molecular orbital basis with variable orbital occupation numbers. A new neutron data set is also employed to explore whether this improves the deconvolution of thermal motion and charge density. A range of molecular properties that are novel for experimentally determined charge densities are computed, including Weinhold population analysis, Mayer bond orders, and local kinetic energy densities, in addition to charge topological analysis and quantum theory of atoms-in-molecules (QTAIM) integrated properties. The ease with which a distributed multipole analysis can be performed on the fitted density matrix makes it straightforward to compute molecular moments, the lattice energy, and the electrostatic interaction energies of molecules removed from the crystal. Results are compared with high-level (QCISD) gas-phase calculations and band structure calculations employing density functional theory. Finally, the avenues available for extending the range of molecular properties that can be calculated from experimental charge densities still further using this approach are discussed.     

Copper(II) complexes of two TEMPO-functionalized polypyridyl ligands: structure and catalytic activity in alcohol oxidation

The reaction of copper(II) salts with Bpy-TEMPO and Tpy-TEMPO (Bpy-TEMPO = [2,2′]Bipyridinyl-5,5′-dicarboxylic acid bis-[(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-oxy-piperidin-4-yl)-amide]; Tpy-TEMPO = 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-(2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridin-4′-yloxy)piperidin-1-oxyl) gave dinuclear Bpy-TEMPO-Cu₂ (1) and mononuclear Tpy-TEMPO-Cu (2), respectively. The Cu(II) complexes were characterized by single crystal X-ray analysis. In 1, Cu(II) has a distorted square pyramidal coordination geometry, with a bridging chloride as the axial ligand. The Cu(II) core in 2 also exhibited a distorted square pyramidal coordination geometry, with one chloride as an axial ligand. Weak interactions such as π-interactions and hydrogen bonds are observed in both complexes. When applied as catalysts for the oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde in air, 1 exhibited higher activity than 2 for reactions in o-xylene at 60°C with DBU as a base. High yield (67%) of benzaldehyde was observed when using 1 as a catalyst in a solution of o-xylene with DBU at 60°C.     

Two novel Co (II)-coordination polymers as bifunctional materials for efficient photocatalytic degradation of dyes and electrocatalytic water oxidation

Two novel Co (II)- coordination polymers (CPs) based on 2,5-bis(4-carboxylpheny)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (bcpo), namely [Co/(bcpo)_0.5(tib)(H₂O)₂]_n (1) and [Co (bcpo)_0.5(bidpe)(H₂O)₂]_n (2) (tib = 1,3,5-tirs(1-imidazolyl)benzene, bidpe = 4,4′-bis (imidazolyl)diphenyl ether) have been synthesized under solvothermal conditions and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), single crystal X-ray diffraction, photochemistry as well as electrochemistry. The investigation of the photo-degradation methyl blue and methyl violet (MB, MV) properties of CPs 1–2 demonstrates that CP 1 shows great performance for the degradation of MB, and CP 2 could efficiently degrade MB/MV. Meanwhile, the possible photo-degradation mechanism has been proposed and explored. Simultaneously, electrochemistry studies show that both CPs 1 and 2 can catalyze water oxidation under an alkaline condition at the potential around 1.20 V vs. NHE with relatively low overpotential of 330–510 mV vs. NHE.     

On justification of Cu(II) environment in mononuclear complexes: Joint X-ray and AIM studies

Interaction of copper(II) acetate with benzoic acid (benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid = H₃-btc and 3,5-dinitro-benzoic acid = H-dnb) and pyridine (Py) resulted in two mononuclear square-planar complexes with the compositions [Cu(H₂-btc)₂(Py)₂] (1) and [Cu(dnb)₂(Py)₂] (2). The recrystallization of 2 from dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) yielded the square-bipyramidal complex [Cu(dnb)₂(DMSO)₂(H₂O)₂] (3). Crystal structures of 1-3 were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction at 100 K. The square-planar Cu(II) geometry with the Cu-O and Cu-N distances of 1.924(2), 1.925(2) and 2.024(3) and 2.025(3) Å in 1, and 1.930(4) and 2.033(5) Å in 2 was found. The extended H-bonding system in 1 built on the robust carboxylic synthons is giving rise to the high-ordered porous layered structure. Insight into metal center environment and stabilizing intramolecular short interactions is obtained through quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM). As revealed by QTAIM, in octahedral complex 3 Cu-dnb and Cu-DMSO bonds are stronger than Cu-N bonds in 1 and 2.     

Copper(II) catalyzed selective oxidation of primary alcohols to aldehydes with atmospheric oxygen

Copper(II) complex 1 selectively catalyzes the oxidation of primary alcohols to aldehydes in high yields by atmospheric oxygen in the presence of TEMPO. This procedure does not require an additive and the catalyst 1 is recyclable without loss of activity.     

Highly selective copper‐catalyzed oxidation of benzyl alcohols to aromatic aldehydes in water at room temperature

Water‐soluble 2N2O–Cu(II) complexes were synthesized and used for the catalytic oxidation of benzylic alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes in pure water resulting in high yields of up to 94%. Importantly, the catalytic system exhibits a wide substrate scope, high functional group tolerance and can be reused directly for subsequent reaction cycles. Using this catalytic system, the product 4‐methylbenzaldehyde can be produced on a multi‐gram scale and in the complete absence of any organic solvent, surfactant or phase transfer reagent. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preparation and Thermal Decomposition of Copper(II) Complexes with 4-Methylimidazole

Simple and mixed compounds of the formulae Cu(4-Meim)₂, CuSal(4-Meim), CuSal(4-Meim)₂ and CuSalox(4-Meim)₂, where 4-Meim=4-methylimidazole, Sal=(OC₆H₄COO)²⁻, Salox=(OC₆H₄CHNO)²⁻ have been prepared. Thermal decomposition reactions have been established on the basis of thermal and X-ray analyses of these compounds. The pyrolysis proceeds in several (3–4) stages connected with the mass loss and exothermic effects. As a result of the last stage of decomposition CuO is formed. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Structures of Dimer-of-Dimers Type Defect Cubane Tetranuclear Copper(II) Complexes with Novel Dinucleating Ligands

Only a limited number of multinucleating ligands can stably maintain multinuclear metal structures in aqueous solutions. In this study, a water-soluble dinucleating ligand, 2,6-bis{[N-(carboxylatomethyl)-N-methyl-amino]methyl}-4-methylphenolate ((sym-cmp)³⁻), was prepared and its copper(II) complexes were structurally characterized. Using the single-crystal X-ray diffraction method, their dimer-of-dimers type defect cubane tetranuclear copper(II) structures were characterized for [Cu₄(sym-cmp)₂Cl₂(H₂O)₂] and [Cu₄(sym-cmp)₂(CH₃O)₂(CH₃OH)₂]. In the complexes, each copper(II) ion has a five-coordinate square-pyramidal coordination geometry. The coordination bond character was confirmed by the density functional theory (DFT) calculation on the basis of the crystal structure, whereby we found the bonding and anti-bonding molecular orbitals. From the cryomagnetic measurement and the magnetic analysis, overall antiferromagnetic interaction was observed, and this magnetic behavior is also explained by the DFT result. Judging from the molar conductance and the electronic spectra, the bridging chlorido ligand dissociates in water, but the dinuclear copper(II) structure was found to be maintained in an aqueous solution. In conclusion, the tetranuclear copper(II) structures were crystallographically characterized, and the dinuclear copper(II) structures were found to be stabilized even in an aqueous solution.     

Nickel (II) tetrapyridyl complexes as electrocatalysts and precatalysts for water oxidation

Two nickel complexes, [Ni(tpen)](ClO₄)₂.0.5CH₃COCH₃ ( 1 ) and [Ni(tpbn)](ClO₄)₂ ( 2 ), of tetrapyridyl ligands N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-pyridyl-methyl)-1,2-ethanediamine (tpen) and N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-pyridyl-methyl)-1,4-butanediamine (tpbn) were prepared and their catalysis for water oxidation reaction (WOR) studied. In 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution (PBS) of pH 8.0, complex 1 is a homogeneous molecular catalyst with an overpotential of ~440 mV and a Faradaic efficiency of 89%. At pH ≥ 9.0, complex 1 degraded gradually during the catalytic process and formed NiO_x composite (nickel oxide with general formula Ni_xO_yH_z) active for WOR. In contrast, complex 2 deteriorated under measured conditions (pH 8.0–12.0) and formed NiO_x composite active for WOR. The NiO_x composite derived from 1 in 0.1 M PBS at pH 11.0 showed an activity with an overpotential of ~500 mV, a Tafel slope of ~90 mV/decade and a Faradaic efficiency of 97%. Mechanisms were proposed for water oxidation catalyzed by 1 and 2 . This work revealed that the catalytic activity of the nickel complexes was related to the flexibility of the tetrapyridyl ligands and the adaptability of the coordination sphere of the nickel(II) center.     

Catalytic activity of nickel(II), copper(II) and oxovanadium(II)‐dihydroindolone complexes towards homogeneous oxidation reactions

Three novel paramagnetic metal complexes (MH₂ID) of Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺ and VO²⁺ ions with 3‐hydroxy‐3,3’‐biindoline‐2,2’‐dione (dihydroindolone, H₄ID) were synthesized and characterized by different spectroscopic methods. The ligand (H₄ID) was synthesized via homocoupling reaction of isatin in presence of phenylalanine in methanol. Complexation of low valent Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺ ions and high valent VO²⁺ ions with H₄ID carried out in 1: 2 molar ratios. A comparison in the catalytic potential of paramagnetic complexes of low and high valent metal ion was explored in the oxidation processes of cis‐cyclooctene, benzyl alcohol and thiophene by an aqueous H₂O₂, as a green terminal oxidant, in the presence and absence of acetonitrile, as an organic solvent, at 85 °C. NiH₂ID, CuH₂ID and VOH₂ID show good catalytic activity, i.e. good chemo‐ and regioselectivity. VOH₂ID has the highest catalytic potential compared to both Ni²⁺‐ and Cu²⁺‐species in the same homogenous aerobic atmosphere. Catalytic oxidation of other alkenes and alcohols was also studied using NiH₂ID, CuH₂ID or VOH₂ID as a pre‐catalyst by an aqueous H₂O₂. A mechanistic pathway for those oxidation processes was proposed.     

Development and Validation of Catalytic Kinetic Spectrophotometric Method for Determination of Copper(II)

A catalytic kinetic spectrophotometric method is developed for the determination of trace amounts of Cu(II). It is based on the catalytic effect of Cu(II) on the oxidation of cysteine (RSH) by hexacyanoferrate(III) in acidic medium. The reaction was monitored spectrophotometrically by measuring the decrease in absorbance of hexacyanoferrate(III) at 420nm. The optimum operating conditions regarding concentration of reagents, pH and temperature were established. The working curve is linear in the concentration range of 0–6.35ng·mL^–1. The maximum percentage error and standard deviation for determination of Cu(II) in the range of 1.27–6.35ng·mL^–1 have been calculated to be 3.9 and 0.4 respectively. The detection limit calculated was 0.15ng·mL^–1. The interference effect of several species was also investigated, and it was found that the most common cations and anions do not interfere with the determination. The developed procedure was successfully applied to the determination of Cu(II) in various synthetic and real samples. The typical feature of this procedure is that determination can be carried out at 25°C and/or in the absence of any precision thermostatic bath in the very short analysis time of one minute. The newly developed method was found to have fairly good selectivity, sensitivity, simplicity and rapidity compared to other kinetic methods.Received October 8, 2002; accepted April 7, 2003 Published online July 16, 2003