Single end to end azido bridged adduct of a tridentate schiff base copper(II) complex: Synthesis, structure, magnetism and catalytic studies

• Azido bridged copper(II) complex was synthesized and characterized.
• The complex shows antiferromagnetism.
• The complex exhibits good catalytic activity in the oxidation of olefins.
• Catalytic activity depends upon solvent media.
• Catalytic efficacy is due to copper complex rather than copper salt itself.

Copper(II) azido complex [CuL(μ-1,3-N3)]n (1) of a NNO donor tridentate Schiff base (HL = 2-[1-(methylamino-ethylimino)-methyl]-phenol containing single end-to-end μ-1,3-azido bridged 1D infinite chain has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy. X-ray single crystal structure analysis reveals that in 1, the central copper(II) ion displays a distorted square pyramidal coordination geometry and are linked by single EE azide bridges forming chains running parallel to the crystallographic b axis. The magnetic interaction revealed that 1 is antiferromagnetic in nature (J = −19.5 (±0.2) cm−1). The catalytic activity of the complex is investigated in a series of solvents for the oxidation of olefins using tert-butyl-hydroperoxide as oxidant. The results showed highest selectivity for 1 in acetonitrile medium.

Single end to end azido bridged 1D chain copper(II) complex with tridentate (NNO donor) Schiff-base ligand has been synthesized and characterized by X-ray Crystallography. The magnetic study revealed that the complex is antiferromagnetic in nature. Olefin epoxidation reactions catalyzed by the complex, in different solvent media, have been studied by using tert-BuOOH as oxidant.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide