Cage‐like Fe,Na‐Germsesquioxanes: Structure,Magnetism, and Catalytic Activity

A series of four unprecedented heterometallic metallagermsesquioxanes were synthesized. Their cage‐like architectures have a unique type of molecular topology consisting of the hexairon oxo {Fe₆O₁₉} core surrounded in a triangular manner by three cyclic germoxanolates [PhGe(O)O]₅. This structural organization induces antiferromagnetic interactions between the Fe^III ions through the oxygen atoms. Evaluated for this first time in catalysis, these compounds showed a high catalytic activity in the oxidation of alkanes and the oxidative formation of benzamides from alcohols.     

Specific Enhancement of Catalytic Activity by a Dicopper Core: Selective Hydroxylation of Benzene to Phenol with Hydrogen Peroxide

A dicopper(II) complex, stabilized by the bis(tpa) ligand 1,2‐bis[2‐[bis(2‐pyridylmethyl)aminomethyl]‐6‐pyridyl]ethane (6‐hpa), [Cu₂(μ‐OH)(6‐hpa)]³⁺, was synthesized and structurally characterized. This complex catalyzed selective hydroxylation of benzene to phenol using H₂O₂, thus attaining large turnover numbers (TONs) and high H₂O₂ efficiency. The TON after 40 hours for the phenol production exceeded 12000 in MeCN at 50 °C under N₂, the highest value reported for benzene hydroxylation with H₂O₂ catalyzed by homogeneous complexes. At 22 % benzene conversion, phenol (95.2 %) and p ‐benzoquinone (4.8 %) were produced. The mechanism of H₂O₂ activation and benzene hydroxylation is proposed.