Oxygenation of 4-tert-butylcatechol catalysed by a manganese(II) complex: implications for extradiol catechol dioxygenases

An N donor tetradentate manganese complex, Mn^II(bispicen)Cl₂] (A) bispicen = N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,2-ethanediamine)] catalyses the oxidative cleavage of 4-tert-butylcatechol (1) in the presence of O₂. The oxygenated products were isolated by t.l.c. and column chromatography and characterised by ¹H-, ¹³C-n.m.r., DEPT, i.r. and u.v.–vis. spectroscopy. The oxygenated products as well as other spectral evidence suggest that the oxygenation occurs via a 4-tert-butylsemiquinone bound complex, Mn^II(bispicen)(4-sq)]⁺ (4-sq = 4-tert-butylsemiquinone). ¹H-n.m.r. spectroscopy suggests that the oxygenation follows multiple pathways. Isolation of the products suggests that the oxygenations proceed in an extradiol fashion and a probable mechanism is suggested. Some intradiol cleaved products have also been detected. E.s.r. spectroscopy suggests that manganese(II) is ultimately converted into the manganese(IV) species.