Hydroxylation of a methyl group: synthesis of [Cu2(btmmO)2I]+ and of [Cu2(btmmO)2]2+ containing the novel ligand {bis(trimethylmethoxy)guanidino}propane (btmmO) by copper-assisted oxygen activation

The Cu(I) complexes [Cu(btmgp)I] and [Cu2(btmgp)2][PF6]2 react with O2 to form binuclear bis(μ-oxo)copper(III) complexes at low temperatures; these species convert to bis(μ-alkoxo)dicopper(II) and bis(μ-hydroxo)dicopper(II) complex cations in a 1:1 ratio on warming up to room temperature.