Solvent-controlled synthesis of tetranuclear cage-like copper(II) silsesquioxanes. Remarkable features of the cage structures and their high catalytic activity in oxidation with peroxides

Dalton Trans. 2014 Jan 14;43(2):872-82. doi: 10.1039/c3dt52508b. Epub 2013 Oct 24.

Abstract

Two principally different in their molecular architecture isomeric tetranuclear copper(ii) silsesquioxanes, "Globule"-like compound [(PhSiO1.5)12(CuO)4(NaO0.5)4] (1) and "Sandwich"-like derivative [(PhSiO1.5)6(CuO)4(NaO0.5)4(PhSiO1.5)6] (2), were synthesized by the partial cleavage of polymeric copper(ii) silsesquioxane [(PhSiO1.5)2(CuO)]n by tetraphenylcyclotetrasiloxanolate. The route leading to the formation of either 1 or 2 entirely depends on the nature and composition of the solvent used for this reaction. Thus, the process in an ethanol-1-butanol solution gives compound 1. When a 1,4-dioxane-methanol mixture was used, compound 2 was prepared. The structures and unusual crystal packing of the cages were confirmed by the X-ray studies. It has been found that the reaction of benzene with H2O2 in acetonitrile solution at 50 °C catalyzed by 1 requires addition of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in low concentration and gives phenol with a turnover number (TON) of 250 after 3 h. The initial reaction rate W0 linearly depends on the concentration of catalyst 2. The oxidation of 1-phenylethanol to acetophenone with hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by complex 1 in the presence of TFA is not efficient. In contrast, 1 exhibited excellent activity in the oxidation with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) in the absence of any acid (the yield of acetophenone was close to the quantitative, TON attained 475 after 2 h). A kinetic study of this reaction led to the conclusion that the process occurs with the participation of radicals tert-BuO˙ produced in the Cu-promoted decomposition of TBHP. The mode of dependence of W0 on the initial concentration of TBHP indicates the formation of an intermediate adduct between the catalyst 1 and TBHP (characterized by the equilibrium constant K1≈ 2 M(-1) for the conditions of conducted experiments) followed by subsequent decomposition of the adduct (k2≈ 0.2 s(-1)) to generate an intermediate species tert-BuO˙ which induces the alcohol oxidation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Benzene / chemistry
  • Catalysis
  • Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic
  • Copper / chemistry*
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / chemistry*
  • Isomerism
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemical synthesis*
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemistry*
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Phenylethyl Alcohol / chemistry
  • Solvents / chemistry*
  • tert-Butylhydroperoxide / chemistry*

Substances

  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Solvents
  • Copper
  • tert-Butylhydroperoxide
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Benzene
  • Phenylethyl Alcohol