N-aralkylpolyamine complexes—VIII: Complexes of copper(II) with N,N,N′,N′-tetrabenzylethylenediamine and N,N,N′-tribenzylethylenediamine

Abstract Five new complexes of N,N,N′,N′-tetrabenzylethylenediamine (TBEn) and N,N,N′-tetrazylethylenediamine (TriBEn) are reported: Cu(TBEn)X 2 (X  Cl, Br, NO 3 ), and Cu(TriBEn)X 2 (X  Cl, Br). Their structures were deduced from room and liquid nitrogen temperature reflectance spectra, visible spectra, i.r. spectra, X-ray powder patterns, magnetic susceptibilities and conductivities. TBEn was characterized by its NMR spectrum. The unexpected degradation of TBEn to TriBEn in the presence of copper(II) halides in hot and cold solutions was investigated. The decomposition products were isolated and characterized by u.v., visible and i.r. spectra. The oxidative production of benzaldehyde is catalyzed by the copper(II) halides but not by the nitrate.