New diamondoid-like [Cu3B(μ-O)6] core self-assembled from Bis-Tris biobuffer for mild hydrocarboxylation of alkanes to carboxylic acids

Abstract

The new tricopper(II) complex [Cu(3)(μ(3)-BO)(H(3)L)(3)][BF(4)]·2H(2)O (1) with an unprecedented diamondoid-like [Cu(3)B(μ-O)(6)] core has been easily generated by self-assembly in an aqueous medium from Cu(NO(3))(2), NaBF(4), NaOH and Bis-Tris (H(5)L) biobuffer, (HOCH(2))(3)CN(CH(2)CH(2)OH)(2). Compound 1 efficiently promotes the mild single-pot hydrocarboxylation, by CO and H(2)O, of various linear and cyclic C(n) (n = 2-8) alkanes into the corresponding C(n+1) carboxylic acids.