Catalysis by copper complexes of syndiotactic homo‐ and copolymers of Nα‐protected 2‐methylallyl histidinate

The syndiotactic Nα‐protected poly(2‐methylallyl L‐histidinate) and the corresponding copolymers, poly[(2‐methylallyl alcohol)‐s‐co‐(2‐methylallyl L‐histidinate)], were complexed with different Cu(II) compounds and used as catalysts for the aerobic oxidation of hydroquinone to quinone. The apparent first order rate constants were one to two orders of magnitude larger for the Cu(II)‐complexed homo‐ and copolymers than for the Cu(II) compounds or the polymers alone, or for the model compound in its complexed or uncomplexed state.