A novel Cu(II) tetranuclear complex, chemical properties and catalysis of hydrolysis of phosphate esters

Abstract A new Cu II tetranuclear complex of the Schiff base ligand 2,6-bis(( E )-((2-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)ethyl)imino)methyl)-4-(tert-butyl)phenol has been synthesized and the crystal structure of the complex has been determined by x-ray crystallography. The complex crystallizes as a dimer with outer bridging phenoxide groups and inner μ 3 -bridging chloride groups. The Cu II complex was studied electrochemically by cyclic voltammetry and its composition determined by CHN elemental analysis. It was determined experimentally that the complex was catalytically active in the hydrolysis of 4-nitophenylphosphate, increasing the rate of hydrolysis by one order of magnitude at pH 7.5. UV–visible spectroscopy was employed to track the progress of hydrolysis by monitoring the release of 4-nitrophenolate ions at 415 nm.