Aroylhydrazone Cu(II) complexes in keto form: Structural characterization and catalytic activity towards cyclohexane oxidation

Abstract

The reaction of the Schiff base (3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxybenzylidene)-2-hydroxybenzohydrazide (H3L) with a copper(II) salt of a base of a strong acid, i.e., nitrate, chloride or sulphate, yielded the mononuclear complexes [Cu(H2L)(NO3 )(H2O)] (1), [Cu(H2L)Cl]. 2MeOH (2) and the binuclear complex [{Cu(H2L)}2 (μ-SO4 )]. 2MeOH (3), respectively, with H3L- in the keto form. Compounds 1-3were characterized by elemental analysis, Infrared (IR) spectroscopy, Electrospray Ionisation Mass Spectrometry (ESI-MS) and single crystal X-ray crystallography. All compounds act as efficient catalysts towards the peroxidative oxidation of cyclohexane to cyclohexyl hydroperoxide, cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone, under mild conditions. In the presence of an acid promoter, overall yields (based on the alkane) up to 25% and a turnover number (TON) of 250 (TOF of 42h-1 ) after 6 h, were achieved.