To obtain mechanistic insights into the inherent reactivity patterns for copper(I)–O2 adducts, a new cupric–superoxo complex [(DMM-tmpa)CuII(O2•–)]+ (2) [DMM-tmpa = tris((4-methoxy-3,5-dimethylpyridin-2-yl)methyl)amine] has been synthesized and studied in phenol oxidation–oxygenation reactions. Compound 2 is characterized by UV–vis, resonance Raman, and EPR spectroscopies. Its reactions with a series of para-substituted 2,6-di-tert-butylphenols (p-X-DTBPs) afford 2,6-di-tert-butyl-1,4-benzoquinone (DTBQ) in up to 50% yields. Significant deuterium kinetic isotope effects and a positive correlation of second-order rate constants (k2) compared to rate constants for p-X-DTBPs plus cumylperoxyl radical reactions indicate a mechanism that involves rate-limiting hydrogen atom transfer (HAT). A weak correlation of (kBT/e) ln k2 versus Eox of p-X-DTBP indicates that the HAT reactions proceed via a partial transfer of charge rather than a complete transfer of charge in the electron transfer/proton transfer pathway. Product analyses, 18O-labeling experiments, and separate reactivity employing the 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenoxyl radical provide further mechanistic insights. After initial HAT, a second molar equiv of 2 couples to the phenoxyl radical initially formed, giving a CuII–OO–(ArO′) intermediate, which proceeds in the case of p-OR-DTBP substrates via a two-electron oxidation reaction involving hydrolysis steps which liberate H2O2 and the corresponding alcohol. By contrast, four-electron oxygenation (O–O cleavage) mainly occurs for p-R-DTBP which gives 18O-labeled DTBQ and elimination of the R group.

Metal-dioxygen adducts are key intermediates detected in the catalytic cycles of dioxygen activation by metalloenzymes and biomimetic compounds. In this study, mononuclear cobalt(III)-peroxo complexes bearing tetraazamacrocyclic ligands, (17) Å and 1.438(6) Å, respectively. The cobalt(III)-peroxo complexes showed reactivities in the oxidation of aldehydes and O 2 -transfer reactions. In the aldehyde oxidation reactions, the nucleophilic reactivity of the cobalt-peroxo complexes was significantly dependent on the ring size of the macrocyclic ligands, with the reactivity of [Co(13-TMC)(O 2 )] + > [Co(12-TMC)(O 2 )] + . In the O 2 -transfer reactions, the cobalt(III)-peroxo complexes transferred the bound peroxo group to a manganese(II) complex, affording the corresponding cobalt(II) and manganese(III)-peroxo complexes. The reactivity of the cobalt-peroxo complexes in O 2 -transfer was also significantly dependent on the ring size of tetraazamacrocycles, and the reactivity order in the O 2 -transfer reactions was the same as that observed in the aldehyde oxidation reactions.wwnam@ewha.ac.kr. Supporting Information Available. Non-phase shift corrected Fourier transform data, their corresponding EXAFS data, and FEFF best fit parameters for 2 and 4. X-ray crystal structures of 1 and 3, resonance Raman data of 2 and 4, EPR data of 1 -4, COSY NMR spectrum of 2, kinetic data of the reactions of 4 with 2-PPA and para-X-Ph-CHO, UV-vis spectral changes of the O 2 -transfer reactions of 2 and 4, and X-ray crystallographic files of 1 -4 in CIF format. This material is available free of charge via the Internet at

Copper(II)-hydroperoxide species are significant intermediates in processes such as fuel cells and (bio)chemical oxidations, all involving stepwise reduction of molecular oxygen. We previously reported a CuII-OOH species that performs oxidative N-dealkylation on a dibenzylamino group that is appended to the 6-position of a pyridyl donor of a tripodal tetradentate ligand. To obtain insights into the mechanism of this process, reaction kinetics and products were determined employing ligand substrates with various para- substituent dibenzyl pairs (-H,-H; -H,-Cl; -H,-OMe and -Cl,-OMe), or with partially or fully deuterated dibenzyl N-(CH2Ph)2 moieties. A series of ligand-copper(II) bis-perchlorate complexes were synthesized, characterized, and the X-ray structures of the -H, -OMe analog was were determined. The corresponding metastable CuII-OOH species were generated by addition of H2O2/base in acetone at –90 °C. These convert (t1/2 ~ 53 s) to oxidatively N-dealkylated products, producing para-substituted benzaldehydes. Based on the experimental observations and supporting DFT calculations, a reaction mechanism involving dibenzylamine H-atom abstraction or electron-transfer oxidation by the CuII-OOH entity could be ruled out. It is concluded that the chemistry proceeds by rate limiting Cu–O homolytic cleavage of the CuII–(OOH) species, followed by site-specific copper Fenton chemistry. As a process of broad interest in copper as well as iron oxidative (bio)chemistries, a detailed computational analysis was performed, indicating that a CuIOOH species undergoes O–O homolytic cleavage to yield a hydroxyl radical and CuIIOH rather than heterolytic cleavage to yield water and a CuII-O•−.

Previous efforts to synthesize a cupric superoxide complex possessing a thioether donor have resulted in the formation of an end-on trans-peroxodicopper(II) species, [{(Ligand)CuII}2(μ-1,2-O22−)]2+. Redesign/modification of previous N3S tetradentate ligands has now allowed for the stabilization of the monomeric, superoxide product possessing a S(thioether)-ligation, [(DMAN3S)CuII(O2•−)]+ (2S), as characterized by UV-vis and resonance Raman (rR) spectroscopies. This complex mimics the putative CuII(O2•−) active species of the copper monooxygenase PHM and exhibits enhanced reactivity towards both O-H and C-H substrates in comparison to close analogues [(L)CuII(O2•−)]+, where L contains only nitrogen donor atoms. Cu-S(thioether) ligation with its weaker donor ability (relative to an N-donor) are demonstrated by comparisons to the chemistry of analogue compounds.

To contribute solutions for current energy concerns, improvements in the efficiency of C-H bond cleavage chemistry, e.g., selective oxidation of methane to methanol, could minimize losses in natural gas usage or produce feedstocks for fuels. Oxidative C-H activation is also a component of polysaccharide degradation, affording alternative biofuels from abundant biomass. Thus, an understanding of active-site chemistry in copper monooxygenases, those activating strong C-H bonds is briefly reviewed. Then, recent advances in the synthesis-generation and study of various copper-oxygen intermediates are highlighted. Of special interest are cupric-superoxide, Cu-hydroperoxo and Cu-oxy complexes. Such investigations can contribute to an enhanced future application of C-H oxidation or oxygenation processes using air, as concerning societal energy goals.

High-valent manganese(IV or V)-oxo porphyrins are considered as reactive intermediates in the oxidation of organic substrates by manganese porphyrin catalysts. We have generated Mn(V)- and Mn(IV)-oxo porphyrins in basic aqueous solution and investigated their reactivities in C-H bond activation of hydrocarbons. We now report that Mn(V)- and Mn(IV)-oxo porphyrins are capable of activating C-H bonds of alkylaromatics, with the reactivity order of Mn(V)-oxo>Mn(IV)-oxo; the reactivity of a Mn(V)-oxo complex is 150 times greater than that of a Mn(IV)-oxo complex in the oxidation of xanthene. The C-H bond activation of alkylaromatics by the Mn(V)- and Mn(IV)-oxo porphyrins is proposed to occur through a hydrogen-atom abstraction, based on the observations of a good linear correlation between the reaction rates and the C-H bond dissociation energy (BDE) of substrates and high kinetic isotope effect (KIE) values in the oxidation of xanthene and dihydroanthracene (DHA). We have demonstrated that the disproportionation of Mn(IV)-oxo porphyrins to Mn(V)-oxo and Mn(III) porphyrins is not a feasible pathway in basic aqueous solution and that Mn(IV)-oxo porphyrins are able to abstract hydrogen atoms from alkylaromatics. The C-H bond activation of alkylaromatics by Mn(V)- and Mn(IV)-oxo species proceeds through a one-electron process, in which a Mn(IV)-oxo porphyrin is formed as a product in the C-H bond activation by a Mn(V)-oxo porphyrin, followed by a further reaction of the Mn(IV)-oxo porphyrin with substrates that results in the formation of a Mn(III) porphyrin complex. This result is in contrast to the oxidation of sulfides by the Mn(V)-oxo porphyrin, in which the oxidation of thioanisole by the Mn(V)-oxo complex produces the starting Mn(III) porphyrin and thioanisole oxide. This result indicates that the oxidation of sulfides by the Mn(V)-oxo species occurs by means of a two-electron oxidation process. In contrast, a Mn(IV)-oxo porphyrin complex is not capable of oxidizing sulfides due to a low oxidizing power in basic aqueous solution.

A high-valent iron(IV)-oxo porphyrin pi-cation radical is an active oxidant in the catalytic oxygenation of organic substrates by an iron(III) porphyrin complex and peracids, whereas an iron(III)-oxidant porphyrin adduct is a sluggish oxidant in iron porphyrin model reactions.

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