OXIDATION AND CATALYTIC PROPERTIES OF A BINUCLEAR COPPER(I) COMPLEX WITH A META-XYLYL SPACER LIGAND

The oxidation product of the binuclear copper (I) complex Cu2L(ClO4)2 (L = N,N'-bis-(6-methyl-2-pyridil) (2'-pyridyl)methyl m-xylylidene imine) has been isolated and structurally characterised. In the cupric species, [Cu2L(Me-O)2](ClO4 )2, the metal centres are bridged by two methoxide groups, and the oxygenation of the xylyl spacer of the hexadentate ligand is not observed. The copper(I) complex was found to be a catalyst for the oxidation of 3,5-ditertbutylcatechol to 3,5-ditertbutyl-o-benzoquinone by molecular oxygen