Solvent effects on the conversion of dicopper(II) micro-eta(2):eta(2)-peroxo to bis-micro-oxo dicopper(III) complexes: direct probing of the solvent interaction

A new tridentate ligand, PYAN, is employed to investigate solvent influences for dioxygen reactivity with Cu(PYAN)(MeCN)]B(C(6)F(5))(4) (1). Stopped-flow kinetic studies confirm that the adducts u(II)(PYAN)]2)(O(2))]B(C(6)F(5))(4)](2) (2(Peroxo)) and u(III)(PYAN)]2)(O)(2)]B(C(6)F(5))(4)](2) (2(Oxo)) are in rapid equilibrium. Thermodynamic parameters for the equilibrium between 2(Peroxo) and 2(Oxo) re as follows: THF, deltaH degrees approximately -15.7 kJ/mol, deltaS degrees approximately -83 J/K.mol; acetone, deltaH degrees approximately -15.8 kJ/mol, deltaS degrees approximately -76 J/K.mol. UV-visible absorption and resonance Raman spectroscopic signatures demonstrate that the equilibrium is highly solvent dependent; the mixture is mostly 2(Peroxo) in CH(2)Cl(2), but there are significantly increasing quantities of 2(Oxo) along the series methylene chloride --> diethyl ether --> acetone --> tetrahydrofuran (THF). Copper(II)-N(eq) stretches (239, 243, 244, and 246 cm(-)(1) in CH(2)Cl(2), Et(2)O, acetone, and THF, respectively) are identified for 2(Peroxo), but they are not seen in 2(Oxo), revealing for the first time direct evidence for solvent coordination in the more open 2(Peroxo) structure.