Formation of the trinuclear triangular copper derivative [Cu3(mu3-OH)(mu-pz)3(EtCOO)2(H2O)] x H2O, 1b (Hpz = pyrazole), has been simply achieved by addition of Hpz to a water solution of Cu(EtCOO)2 x H2O and leaving the resulting solution to crystallize at ca. 12 degrees C. When the reaction and crystallization were carried out at a slightly higher temperature (18-22 degrees C), the compound [Cu3(mu3-OH)(mu-pz)3(EtCOO)2(H2O)], 1c, formed. Single-crystal X-ray molecular structure determinations show that both compounds have analogous trinuclear triangular structures, but very different supramolecular assemblies, due mainly, but not only, to the crystallization molecule of H2O in 1b. In particular, contrarily to the previously reported, strictly related, [Cu3(mu3-OH)(mu-pz)3(EtCOO)2(EtOH)], 1a, the propionate ions in 1b and 1c do not bridge different triangular units, whereas they are involved in intra- and intermolecular H-bonds, generating complex supramolecular 2-D MOFs. Compounds 1a and 1c act as remarkably active and selective catalysts or catalyst precursors for liquid biphasic (MeCN/H2O) peroxidative oxidation of cyclohexane and cyclopentane to the corresponding alcohols and ketones.

New hydrazone o-HO-phenylhydrazo-β-diketones (OHADB), R(1)NHN═CR(2)R(3) [R(1) = HO-2-C(6)H(4), R(2) = R(3) = COMe (H(2)L(1), 1), R(2)R(3) = COCH(2)C(Me)(2)CH(2)CO (H(2)L(2), 2), R(2) = COMe, R(3) = COOEt (H(2)L(4), 4); R(1) = HO-2-O(2)N-4-C(6)H(3), R(2)R(3) = COCH(2)C(Me)(2)CH(2)CO (H(2)L(3), 3), R(2) = COMe, R(3) = COOEt (H(2)L(5), 5), R(2)R(3) = COMe (H(2)L(6), 6A)], and their Cu(II) complexes [Cu(2)(CH(3)OH)(2)(μ-L(1))(2)] 7, [Cu(2)(H(2)O)(2)(μ-L(2))(2)] 8, [Cu(H(2)O)(L(3))] 9, [Cu(2)(μ-L(4))(2)](n) 10, [Cu(H(2)O)(L(5))] 11, [Cu(2)(H(2)O)(2)(μ-L(6))(2)] 12A and [Cu(H(2)O)(2)(L(6))] 12B were synthesized and fully characterized, namely, by X-ray analysis (4, 5, 7-12B). Reaction of 6A, Cu(NO(3))(2) and ethylenediamine (en) leads, via Schiff-base condensation, to [Cu{H(2)NCH(2)CH(2)N═C(Me)C(COMe)═NNC(6)H(3)-2-O-4-NO(2)}] (13), and reactions of 12A and 12B with en give the Schiff-base polymer [Cu{H(2)NCH(2)CH(2)N═C(Me)C(COMe)═NNC(6)H(3)-2-O-4-NO(2)}](n) 14. The dependence of the OHADB tautomeric equilibria on temperature, electronic properties of functional groups, and solvent polarity was studied. The OHADB from unsymmetrical β-diketones exist in solution as a mixture of enol-azo and hydrazo tautomeric forms, while in the solid state all the free and coordinated OHADB crystallize in the hydrazo form. The relative stabilities of various tautomers were studied by density functional theory (DFT). 7-14 show catalytic activities for peroxidative oxidation (in MeCN/H(2)O) of cyclohexane to cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone, for selective aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohols to benzaldehydes in aq. solution, mediated by TEMPO radical, under mild conditions and for the MW-assisted solvent-free synthesis of ketones from secondary alcohols with tert-butylhydroperoxide as oxidant.

The reactions of CuII carboxylates (valerate, 2-methylbutyrate, hexanoate, heptanoate) with pyrazole (Hpz) in EtOH or EtOH/water solutions easily afford the triangular trinuclear copper derivatives [Cu3(μ3-OH)(μ-pz)3(RCOO)2(L)x] [R = CH3(CH2)3, L = H2O, x = 1 for 5; R = CH3CH2CH(CH3), L = EtOH, x = 2 for 6; R = CH3(CH2)4, L = EtOH, x = 1 for 7; R = CH3(CH2)5, L = EtOH, x = 1 for 8] as it has been previously found for R = H, L = Hpz, x = 2, (1); R = CH3, L = Hpz, x = 1, (2); R = CH3CH2, L = EtOH, x = 1, (3) and [Cu3(μ3-OH)(μ-pz)3-(CH3(CH2)2COO)2(MeOH)(H2O)], (4). The trinuclear structure common to 5–8 has been assigned on the basis of magnetic susceptibility studies, ESI MS, IR and UV/Vis spectroscopy as well as 1H NMR measurements. The room temp. magnetic susceptibilities of 5–8 almost correspond to the presence of a single unpaired electron for each trinuclear unit. The IR spectra exhibit signals due to the bridging μ3-OH in accordance with what was observed in the spectra of 1–4. Solid-state and MeOH solution UV/Vis spectra show the same features previously reported for 1–4 and 1H NMR spectra of 1–8 show almost identical low field signals that can be assigned to pz– hydrogens. A detailed investigation of the supramolecular structures of 1 and 4 and the single-crystal X-ray study of the polymeric paddlewheel Cu(2-methylbutyrate) 2, A, are also reported. Electrochemical experiments show that in 1–8 the CuII ions can be reduced, in distinct steps, to CuI and Cu0. All the complexes act as catalysts or catalyst precursors for the efficient peroxidative oxidation, by aqueous hydrogen peroxide in acetonitrile and at room temp., of cycloalkanes RH (cyclohexane and cyclopentane) to the corresponding cyclic alcohols and ketones, with overall yields of up to 34% and TONs up to 42. Radical pathways involving the formation of alkyl hydroperoxides (ROOH) are involved

By reacting copper(II) acrylate with pyrazole (Hpz), two trinuclear copper derivatives [Cu3(mu3-OH)(mu-pz)3(CH2CHCOO)2(H2O)2(Hpz)], 1, and [Cu3(mu3-OH)(mu-pz)3(CH2CHCOO)2(CH3OH)], 2, are obtained, in water and methanol respectively, while copper(II) methacrylate affords [Cu3(mu3-OH)(mu-pz)3(CH2C(CH3)COO)2], 3, independently from the solvent used. In 1 and 2 two triangular trinuclear units are connected through acrylate bridges forming hexanuclear clusters that, in the case of 2 are further connected through double syn-syn carboxylate bridges, generating a 1-D coordination polymer. In the case of 3 a different 1-D coordination polymer is obtained by alternating syn-syn and syn-anti double carboxylate bridges connecting the trinuclear clusters. In all cases H-bonds contribute both to the stabilization of these arrangements and to the formation of more extended supramolecular networks. Compounds 1-3 are valuable catalysts in the peroxidative oxidation with aqueous H2O2, in MeCN at 25 degrees C, of cycloalkanes (i.e. cyclohexane and cyclopentane) to the corresponding ketones and alcohols (overall yield up to 36%, TON = 36), following a radical mechanism as shown by radical trap experiments, and the effects of various factors are studied. Electrochemical experiments show that the copper(II) centres are reduced to copper(I) and copper(0).

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The new copper(II) or copper(II)/sodium(I) 1D coordination polymers [Cu2(Hmdea)2(mu-H2O)(mu2-tpa)]n.2nH2O (1), [Cu2(H2tipa)2(mu2-ipa)]n.4nH2O (2), [Cu2(H2tea)2Na(H2O)2(mu2-tma)]n.6nH2O (3), [Cu2(H2tea)2(mu2-ipa)]n.nH2O (4a), and [Cu2(H2tea)2{mu3-Na(H2O)3}(mu3-ipa)]n(NO3)n.0.5nH2O (4b) have been prepared in aqueous medium by self-assembly from copper(II) nitrate, aminopolyalcohols [methyldiethanolamine (H2mdea), triisopropanolamine (H3tipa), and triethanolamine (H3tea)] as main chelating ligands and benzenepolycarboxylic acids [terephthalic (H2tpa), isophthalic (H2ipa), and trimesic (H3tma) acid] as spacers. They have been characterized by IR spectroscopy, elemental and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses, the latter indicating the formation of unusual multinuclear metal cores interconnected by various benzenepolycarboxylate spacers, leading to distinct wavelike, zigzag, or linear 1D polymeric metal-organic chains. These are further extended to 2D or 3D hydrogen-bonded supramolecular networks via extensive interactions with the intercalated crystallization water molecules. The latter are associated, also with aqua ligands, by hydrogen bonds resulting in acyclic (H2O)3 clusters in 1, (H2O)8 clusters in 2, infinite 1D water chains in 3, and disordered water-nitrate associates in 4b, all playing a key role in the structure stabilization and its extension to further dimensions. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements have shown that 1-4 exhibit a moderately strong ferromagnetic coupling through the alkoxo bridge. The small Cu-O-Cu bridging angle and the large out-of-plane displacement of the carbon atom of the alkoxo group accounts for this behavior. The magnetic data have been analyzed by means of a dinuclear and a 1D chain model, and the magnetic parameters have been determined. The magnetic exchange coupling in 3, to our knowledge, is the highest found in alkoxo-bridged copper(II) complexes.

The new three-dimensional (3D) heterometallic Cu(II)/Fe(II) coordination polymers [Cu(6)(H(2)tea)(6)Fe(CN)(6)](n)(NO(3))(2n)·6nH(2)O (1) and [Cu(6)(Hmdea)(6)Fe(CN)(6)](n)(NO(3))(2n)·7nH(2)O (2) have been easily generated by aqueous-medium self-assembly reactions of copper(II) nitrate with triethanolamine or N-methyldiethanolamine (H(3)tea or H(2)mdea, respectively), in the presence of potassium ferricyanide and sodium hydroxide. They have been isolated as air-stable crystalline solids and fully characterized including by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. The latter reveal the formation of 3D metal-organic frameworks that are constructed from the [Cu(2)(μ-H(2)tea)(2)](2+) or [Cu(2)(μ-Hmdea)(2)](2+) nodes and the octahedral [Fe(CN)(6)](4-) linkers, featuring regular (1) or distorted (2) octahedral net skeletons. Upon dehydration, both compounds show reversible escape and binding processes toward water or methanol molecules. Magnetic susceptibility measurements of 1 and 2 reveal strong antiferromagnetic [J = -199(1) cm(-1)] or strong ferromagnetic [J = +153(1) cm(-1)] couplings between the copper(II) ions through the μ-O-alkoxo atoms in 1 or 2, respectively. The differences in magnetic behavior are explained in terms of the dependence of the magnetic coupling constant on the Cu-O-Cu bridging angle. Compounds 1 and 2 also act as efficient catalyst precursors for the mild oxidation of cyclohexane by aqueous hydrogen peroxide to cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone (homogeneous catalytic system), leading to maximum total yields (based on cyclohexane) and turnover numbers (TONs) up to about 22% and 470, respectively.

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