Synthesis of Lateral Macrobicyclic Compartmental Ligands: Structural, Magnetic, Electrochemical, and Catalytic Studies of Mono- and Binuclear Copper(II) Complexes

A series of putative mono- and binuclear copper(II) complexes, of general formulas [CuL](ClO(4)) and [Cu(2)L](ClO(4))(2), respectively, have been synthesized from lateral macrocyclic ligands that have different compartments, originated from their corresponding precursor compounds (PC-1, 3,4:9,10-dibenzo-1,12-[N,N'-bis[(3-formyl-2-hydroxy-5-methyl)benzyl]diaza]-5,8-dioxacyclotetradecane; and PC-2, 3,4:9,10-dibenzo-1,12-[N,N'-bis[(3-formyl-2-hydroxy-5-methyl)benzyl]diaza]-5,8-dioxacyclopentadecane). The precursor compound PC-1 crystallized in the triclinic system with space group P(-)1. The mononuclear copper(II) complex [CuL(1a)](ClO(4)) is crystallized in the monoclinic system with space group P2(1)/c. The binuclear copper(II) complex [Cu(2)L(2c)](ClO(4))(2) is crystallized in the triclinic system with space group P(-)1; the two Cu ions have two different geometries. Electrochemical studies evidenced that one quasi-reversible reduction wave (E(pc) = -0.78 to -0.87 V) for mononuclear complexes and two quasi-reversible one-electron-transfer reduction waves (E(1)(pc) = -0.83 to -0.92 V, E(2)(pc) = -1.07 to -1.38 V) for binuclear complexes are obtained in the cathodic region. Room-temperature magnetic-moment studies convey the presence of antiferromagnetic coupling in binuclear complexes [mu(eff) = (1.45-1.55)mu(B)], which is also suggested from the broad ESR spectra with g = 2.10-2.11, whereas mononuclear complexes show hyperfine splitting in ESR spectra and they have magnetic-moment values that are similar to the spin-only value [mu(eff) = (1.69-1.72)mu(B)]. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility study of the complex shows that the observed -2J value for the binuclear complex [Cu(2)L(1b)](ClO(4))(2) is 214 cm(-1). The observed initial rate-constant values of catechol oxidation, using complexes as catalysts, range from 4.89 x 10(-3) to 5.32 x 10(-2) min(-1) and the values are found to be higher for binuclear complexes than for the corresponding mononuclear complexes.