Room temperature stable multitalent: highly reactive and versatile copper guanidine complexes in oxygenation reactions

JBIC Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry, vol. 26, pp. 249–263

Abstract

Inspired by the efficiency of natural enzymes in organic transformation reactions, the development of synthetic catalysts for oxygenation and oxidation reactions under mild conditions still remains challenging. Tyrosinases serve as archetype when it comes to hydroxylation reactions involving molecular oxygen. We herein present new copper(I) guanidine halide complexes, capable of the activation of molecular oxygen at room temperature. The formation of the reactive bis(µ-oxido) dicopper(III) species and the influence of the anion are investigated by UV/Vis spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and density functional theory. We highlight the catalytic hydroxylation activity towards diverse polycyclic aromatic alcohols under mild reaction conditions. The selective formation of reactive quinones provides a promising tool to design phenazine derivatives for medical applications.

Authors 3

1. Melanie Paul Aachen Institute of Inorganic Chemistry

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 1, 52074, Aachen, Germany

2. Alexander Hoffmann Aachen Institute of Inorganic Chemistry

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 1, 52074, Aachen, Germany

3. Sonja Herres‐Pawlis corresponding Aachen Institute of Inorganic Chemistry

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 1, 52074, Aachen, Germany. sonja.herres-pawlis@ac.rwth-aachen.de

   Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 1, 52074, Aachen, Germany