Oxidation of Benzene Catalyzed by 2,2′-Bipyridine and 1,10-Phenantroline Cu(II) Complexes

The use of mononuclear Cu(II) 2,2′-bipyridine and 1,10-phenantroline complexes as catalysts in the oxidation of benzene, using hydrogen peroxide and tert-butyl hydroperoxide as oxidant in CH₃CN/H₂O solution is presented. The reactions were carried out at 25 and at 50 °C. The complexes [Cu(bipy)₃]Cl₂ · 6H₂O (1), [Cu(bipy)₂Cl]Cl · 5H₂O (2), [Cu(bipy)Cl₂] (3), [Cu(phen)₃]Cl₂ · 7H₂O (4), [Cu(phen)₂Cl]Cl · 5H₂O (5), [Cu(phen)Cl₂] (6) were able to oxidize benzene into phenol, hydroquinone and p-benzoquinone. Highest conversion (22%) was obtained using [Cu(Phen)Cl₂] (6) as catalyst.     

Cu(II) bipyridine and phenantroline complexes: Tailor-made catalysts for the selective oxidation of tetralin

Mononuclear Cu(II) complexes have been synthesized, and their structure thoroughly characterized by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). These 2,2′-bipyridine and 1,10-phenantroline mononuclear Cu(II) complexes have been tested as catalysts in the partial oxidation of tetralin (1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene), using hydrogen peroxide as oxidant in acetonitrile/water as solvent.The complexes [Cu(bipy)₃]Cl₂·6H₂O (1), [Cu(bipy)₂Cl]Cl·5H₂O (2), [Cu(bipy)Cl₂] (3), [Cu(phen)₃]Cl₂·6H₂O (4), [Cu(phen)₂Cl]Cl·5H₂O (5), [Cu(phen)Cl₂] (6) were able to oxidize tetralin at room temperature, at high degrees of conversion (62.1% with 2) into α-tetralol and α-tetralon at 91% selectivity (81% in 1-tetralon).Depending on nature and number of ligands (bipyridine or phenantroline) surrounding Cu²⁺ cation, one was able to tailor both the activity toward tetralin oxidation, and the selectivity toward 1-tetralol and 1-tetralone products, but also to raise the yield in valuable α-tetralone.