Catalytic activity of some new copper(II) azo-complexes

Copper(II) complexes [Cu(L)₂]?·?nH₂O, where L is 3-(p-X-)-4-hydroxy-l,2-naphthoquinone (for L1, X?=?H; L2, X?=?CH₃; L3, X?=?Cl; L4, X?=?Br; and L5, X?=?NO₂), have been synthesized and characterized by analytical, electrochemical, spectroscopic (IR, UV-Vis, ESR, and ¹H NMR), and magnetic methods. From the data obtained, square-planar geometry has been assigned for all the complexes. [CuL1]?·?H₂O exhibits catalytic activity for oxidation of benzyl alcohol, piperonyl alcohol, and cinnamyl alcohol into their respective aldehydes in the presence of H₂O₂ as co-oxidant and in CH₃CN and H₂O as solvents at room temperature.     

Catalytic wet air oxidation of 2-nitrotoluidine and 2,4-dinitrotoluene

The rates of wet air oxidation of 2-nitrotoluidine and 2,4-dinitrotoluene in the presence of excess oxygen and at different temperatures and oxygen pressures was investigated. Oxidation experiments were carried out at temperatures between 180 and 225^oC and oxygen partial pressures of 1,0-3,0 MPa, in a 280 mL glass vessel-inserted stainless steel reactor. Copper sulfate (CuSO₄ .5H₂O) was used as a catalyst, and the effect of catalyst loading was studied by varying the concentration: 0.75, 2.5 and 25 mg/L as Cu²⁺. Addition of Cu²⁺ ions in the reaction media accelerated 2-nitrotoluidine oxidation nearly ten times even if it exists in trace amount in the reaction medium (0.75 ppm Cu²⁺). Unfortunately copper did not show catalytic effect for the oxidation of 2,4-dinitrotoluene. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Catalytic efficacy of Schiff-base copper(II) complexes: Synthesis,X-ray structure and olefin oxidation

Three copper(II) Schiff-base complexes, [Cu(L¹)(H₂O)](ClO₄) (1), [Cu(L²)] (2) and [Cu(L³)] (3) have been synthesized and characterized [where HL¹ = 1-(N-ortho-hydroxy-acetophenimine)-2-methyl-pyridine], H₂L² = N,N′-(2-hydroxy-propane-1,3-diyl)-bis-salicylideneimine and H₂L³ = N,N′-(2,2-dimethyl-propane-1,3-diyl)-bis-salicylideneimine]. The structure of complex 1 has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. In complex 1, the copper(II) ion is coordinated to one oxygen atom and two nitrogen atoms of the tridentate Schiff-base ligand, HL¹. The fourth coordination site of the central metal ion is occupied by the oxygen atom from a water molecule. All the complexes exhibit high catalytic activity in the oxidation reactions of a variety of olefins with tert-butyl-hydroperoxide in acetonitrile. The catalytic efficacy of the copper(II) complexes towards olefin oxidation reactions has been studied in different solvent media.     

Complexes of N-hydroxyphthalimide and cobalt(II) acetate in reactions of alkylarene oxidation by molecular oxygen

The synergetic effect of the catalytic system cobalt(II) acetate-N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) was studied in acetic acid during the oxidation of alkylbenzenes. The formation of complex between the components of catalytic system NHPI and Co(II) was demonstrated with the use of 1H NMR spectroscopy. It was established that N-hydroxyphthalimide is included in the complex as a ligand substituting for acetic acid in the internal coordination sphere of the metal; the reaction of NHPI with cobalt ions in the internal sphere leads to the formation of phthalimide-N-oxyl radicals that than participate in the catalytic cycle of the oxidation of organic substrates. The stability constants of complexes of NHPI with cobalt acetate were determined, as were those for the outer-sphere complexes of alkylbenzenes with metallocomplex.     

Allylation and oxidation reactions promoted by cobalt(II) complexes

Two examples of radical reactions involving cobalt complexes are described. The first one concerns the reactions of allylcobaloximes with 2-bromo 2-phenylacetonitriles leading to the corresponding monoallyl derivatives. It is shown that both the rate and regioselectivity of the reactions are affected by the nature of the substituents on the phenyl group: electron-withdrawing groups give higher rates and highly regiospecific reactions. The second type of radical reaction which finds useful synthetic applications is the oxidation of phenols by 02 catalyzed by Schiff base cobalt complexes. By choosing carefully the catalyst and the solvent, these oxidations can be highly selective, quinones being the major oxidation products in most cases.     

Synthesis,characterization and catalytic activity of halo-methyl-bis(salicylaldehyde)ethylenediamine cobalt(II) complexes

The synthesis, characterization and catalytic activity of a series of tetra-halo-dimethyl salen and di-halo-tetramethyl-salen ligands are reported in this paper: α,α′-dimethyl-Salen (dMeSalen) (L¹); 3,3′,5,5′-tetrachloro-α,α′-dimethyl-Salen, (tCldMeSalen) (L²); 3,3′-dibromo-5,5′-dichloro-α,α′-dimethyl-Salen, (dCldBrdMeSalen) (L³); 3,3′,5,5′-tetrabromo-α,α′-dimethyl-Salen, (tBrdMeSalen) (L⁴); 3,3′,5,5′-tetraiodo-α,α′-dimethyl-salen, (tIdMeSalen) (L⁵); 3,3′-dichloro-5,5′,α,α′-tetramethyl-Salen (dCltMeSalen) (L⁶); 3,3′-dibromo-5,5′,α,α′-tetramethyl-Salen (dBrtMeSalen) (L⁷); and 3,3′-diiodo-5,5′,α,α′-tetramethyl-Salen (dItMeSalen) (L⁸) (Salen = bis(salicylaldehyde)ethylenediamine). Upon reaction with Co(II) ions, these ligands form complexes with square planar geometry that have been characterized by elemental analysis, cyclic voltammetry, UV–Vis, IR and EPR spectroscopies. In the presence of pyridine the obtained Co(II) complexes were found able to bind reversibly O₂, which was shown by EPR spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. They were also found able to catalyze the oxidation of 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol (DtBuP) (9) with formation of 2,6-di-tert-butyl-1,4-benzoquinone (DtBuQ) (10) and 2,6,2′,6′-tetra-tert-butyl-1,1′-diphenobenzoquinone (TtBuDQ) (11). These properties are first influenced by the coordination of pyridine in axial position of the Co(II) ion that causes an increase of the electronic density on the cobalt ion and as a consequence a decrease in the E_1/2 value and an increase of the reducing power of the Co(II) complex. It is noteworthy that, under those conditions the complexes also show a remarkable quasi-reversible behaviour. Second, complex properties are also influenced by the substituents (methyl and halogen) grafted on the aromatic ring and on the azomethynic groups. The donating methyl substituent on the azomethynic groups causes a decrease in the E_1/2 value, whereas the halogen substituents on the aromatic rings have two effects: a mesomeric donating effect that tends to lower the redox potential of the complex, and a steric effect that tends to decrease the conjugation of the ligand and then to increase the redox potential of the Co(II) complex. In pyridine, the steric effect predominates, which causes both an increase of the redox potential and a decrease of the selectivity of the oxidation of phenol 9. As a result of all these effects, it then appears that the best catalysts to realize the selective oxidation of 2,6-di-tert-butyl-phenol (9) by O₂ are the Co complexes of ligands bearing CH₃ donating substituents, Co(dMeSalen) 1 (2CH₃ substituents), and Co-di-halo-tetra-methyl-salen complexes 6, 7 and 8 (4CH₃ substituents), in the presence of pyridine.     

Spectrophotometric study of the reaction between cobalt(II)-dipeptide complexes and molecular oxygen

Summary The influence of pH and ligand structure on the reaction of cobalt(II) complexes with various dipeptides and molecular oxygen was examined. The minimum pH value required for the formation of dioxygen adducts was found to be about 6.5. This value should be related to amidic deprotonation of dipeptides, which seems to occur in the examined systems at particularly low values. The location and steric hindrance of the side chains of the dipeptides have a strong influence on the reaction rate. The presence of a substituent group on the N-terminal amino acid promotes oxygen coordination, while, when the substituent group is on the C-terminal residual, a decrease of reaction rate is observed.A stabilizing effect of the aromatic ring on the dioxygen adducts is found only when the substituent is in the C-terminal position, and seems to be independent of the presence of additional coordinating groups.Some information regarding the mechanism of the irreversible decomposition of the cobalt(II) complexes has been obtained by studying the effect of pH and ligand structure on the reaction rate.Work supported by National Research Council of Italy.     

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.     

Syntheses, characterization and study of the use of cobalt (II) Schiff-base complexes as catalysts for the oxidation of styrene by molecular oxygen

Schiff-Base complexes of bis-5-phenylazosalicylaldehyde ethylenediimine and bis-5-phenylazosalicylaldehyde-O-phenylenediimine ligands with Co(II) (I and II) have been synthesized and characterized by their IR spectra and elemental analyses. These complexes catalyze the oxidation of styrene in the presence of dioxygen and excess pyridine. The effect of the reaction conditions on the oxidation of styrene was studied by varying solvent, nature and amount of the catalyst and substrate. The catalytic behavior of the studied complexes was shown to be dependent on the conditions applied. In all reactions, acetophenone and 1- phenylethanol were the only observed products.     

The kinetics of oxidation of 1-chloro-2-(4-isopropylphenyl)-2-methylpropane by molecular oxygen

The kinetics of formation of 2-[4-(1-chloro-2-methylpropan-2-yl)phenyl]propan-2-yl hydroperoxide during the azobisisobutyronitrile-initiated oxidation of 1-chloro-2-(4-isopropylphenyl)-2-methylpropane by molecular oxygen at 70–100 °C was studied. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1135–1137, June, 2000.     

Autoxidation of 2-mercaptoethanol catalyzed by cobalt(II) phthalocyaninetetrasulfonate on colloidal particles

Cobalt(II) phthalocyaninetetrasulfonate (CoPcTS) is a highly active catalyst in aqueous media for the autoxidation of thiols to disulfides, and cationic polymers further enhance the activity. In this work we tested a variety of cationic polymer supports for the CoPcTS-catalyzed autoxidation of 2-mercaptoethanol in aqueous dispersions at 25°C. The order of activities is cationic polyelectrolytes > cationic polymer colloids > cationic colloidal silica > aqueous solution > ion exchange resins. Spectroscopic studies indicate that the high activity of the polyelectrolytes correlates with their ability to aggregate the CoPcTS. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

36-Nuclear anionic cobalt(II) and nickel(II) complexes in solid-phase insertion reactions

The reactions of single crystals containing 36-nuclear anionic complexes of cobalt(II), (NBu₄)₈[Co₃₆(H₂O-κO)₁₂(μ₃-OH)₂₀(μ₄-Me₂Mal-κ₂O,O′)₂₄(μ₄-Me₂Mal)₆] · 2.5H₂O ? CH₃OH (I), and nickel(II), (NBu₄)₈[Ni₃₆(H₂O-κO)₁₂(μ₃-OH)₂₀(μ₄-Me₂Mal-κ₂O,O′)₂₄(μ₄-Me₂Mal)₆] · 6H₂O ? 2C₂H₅OH (II) and (NHEt₃)₃[Ni₃₆(NHEt₃)(H₂O-κO)_12.25(μ₃-OH)₂₀(μ₄-HMe₂Mal-κ₂O,O′)₄(μ₄-Me₂Mal-κ₂O,O′)₂₀(μ₄-Me₂Mal)₆] · 39H₂O (III), with solutions of 1,4-dioxane and a 0.1 M solution of Dabco (Dabco is 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane) in EtOH are studied. An ethanol solution of Dabco dissolves the crystals of the complexes, whereas the insertion of the solvent molecules with single crystal retention (for the cobalt compound containing tetrabutylammonium cation, I), cracking (for the nickel analog, II), or dissolution (for the cobalt complex containing triethylammonium, III) occurs in 1,4-dioxane. The X-ray diffraction analyses show the substitution of the uncoordinated water and ethanol molecules in the starting compound by 1,4-dioxane molecules in the structure of compound I to form (NBu₄)₈[Co₃₆(H₂O-κO)₁₂(μ₃-OH)₂₀(μ₄-Me₂Mal-κ₂O,O′)₂₄(μ₄-Me₂Mal)₆] · 7C₄H₈O₂ (IV), which is accompanied by a change in the conformation and the shift of tetrabutylammonium cations, indicating a possibility of the modification of the 36-nuclear d-metal complexes with the malonic acid derivatives in the solid-phase resolvation reactions (CIF files CCDC no. 1557499 (III) and 1557500 (IV)).     

Catalytic oxidation of 1-hexene with molecular oxygen by iridium nitro complexes

The oxidation of 1-hexene by molecular oxygen catalyzed by iridium(III) complexes, [Ir(CH₃CN)_5−xCl_x(NO₂)]^2−x (x=0, 1, or 2) has been studied in acetonitrile under P(O₂)=1.5 atm and T=100°C. [Ir(CH₃CN)₅(NO₂)](PF₆)₂ oxidizes 1-hexene to 1,2-epoxyhexane. Complex [Ir(CH₃CN)₄Cl(NO₂)]PF₆ oxidizes 1-hexene to 2,3-epoxyhexane only in the presence of [Pd(PhCN)₂(Cl)₂] (an olefin activator). In contrast to the cationic complexes, the neutral complex [Ir(CH₃CN)₄Cl₂(NO₂)] oxidizes 1-hexene to 2-hexanone only in the presence of [Pd(PhCN)₂(Cl)₂].     

Selective oxidation of alkenes catalysed by ruthenium(II) complexes containing coordinated perchlorate

Ruthenium(II) perchlorate complexes, [Ru(dppm)₃(ClO₄)]ClO₄ 1, [Ru(dppe)₃(ClO₄)]ClO₄ 2, and [Ru(dpae)₃(ClO₄)]ClO₄ 3, catalyse the selective homogeneous oxidation of alkenes with TBHP and H₂O₂ as oxidizing agents. Oxidation of cyclohexene with TBHP gave 2-cyclohexene-1-ol, 2-cyclohexenone and 1-(tert-butylperoxy)-2-cyclohexene. The homogeneous liquid phase oxidation of cyclohexene with TBHP shows appreciable solvent effect. Styrene on oxidation with TBHP gave benzaldehyde as the major product and styrene oxide as the minor product. Oxidation with H₂O₂ is radical-initiated and gives low conversion to products. TBHP and H₂O₂ are compared for their oxidizing ability and TBHP is more effective than H₂O₂ as an oxidizing agent. Linear and long chain alkenes are not efficiently oxidized. Cyclooctene and trans-stilbene are oxidized to the corresponding epoxides.     

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 polarographic prewave of cobalt(II) induced by carbendazim. Application to the voltammetric determination of benomyl

Methyl 1H-benzimidazol-2-ylcarbamate (carbendazim or MBC) catalyzes the reduction of Co^II at mercury electrodes in sodium barbital/nitric acid/sodium chloride media. On the basis of a detailed study of the Co^II prewave induced by carbendazim, a mechanism for the electrode reaction is proposed and adequate conditions for the analytical determination of carbendazim by differential pulse voltammetry are established. Based on this finding, a voltammetric method for the indirect determination of methyl[1-(butylcarbamoyl)-1H-benzimidazol-2yl]carbamate (benomyl) is described, following the conversion of benomyl to carbendazim.