Properties of the one-electron oxidized copper(II) salen-type complexes: Relationship between electronic structures and reactivities

Abstract

The Cu(II)-phenoxyl radical formed during the catalytic cycle of galactose oxidase (GO) attracted much attention, and the structures and properties of a number of metal-phenoxyl radical complexes have been studied. Some of the functional model systems of GO reported previously have shown that the Cu complexes oxidize primary alcohols to aldehydes and that the Cu(II)-phenoxyl radical species is formed in the catalytic cycle. Many Cu(II)-phenoxyl radical species have been produced by one-electron oxidation of the Cu(II)-phenolate complexes. On the other hand, one-electron oxidation of a Cu(II)-phenolate complex has the possibility to give different electronic structures, one of which is the Cu(III)-phenolate. From these points of view, this micro review is focused on the one-electron oxidized square-planar Cu(II) complexes of the salentype ligands. Introduction of substituents into the phenolate moieties and conversion from a 5- to a 6-membered chelate backbone alter the electronic structure of the one-electron oxidized Cu(II) complexes and give rise to a different reactivity of benzyl alcohol oxidation. The relationship between the electronic structure and the reactivity is herein discussed.