Reactions of a Copper(II) Superoxo Complex Lead to CH and OH Substrate Oxygenation: Modeling Copper‐Monooxygenase CH Hydroxylation

Donor makes the difference: The mononuclear η1-superoxo copper(II) complex 1 undergoes dioxygen activation with the addition of hydrogen-atom donors. Net O2-derived O-atom insertion into the N-methyl group of the ligand leads to formation of a copper(II)-alkoxide product 2. The cupric superoxo species 1 itself is not capable of the observed hydroxylation reaction.