Copper(II) coordination polymers derived from triethanolamine and pyromellitic acid for bioinspired mild peroxidative oxidation of cyclohexane

The new inorganic 1D coordination polymer [Cu2(H3tea)2(μ4-pma)]n has been prepared, via self-assembly in aqueous medium, from copper(II) nitrate, triethanolamine (H3tea), pyromellitic acid (H4pma) and lithium hydroxide, and characterized by IR spectroscopy, elemental and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. This compound and the related 2D polymer [Cu2(μ-H2tea)2{μ3-Na2(H2O)4}(μ6-pma)]n · 10nH2O are shown to mimic the alkane partial oxidation activity of the multicopper particulate methane monooxygenase, acting as catalysts precursors for the peroxidative oxidation of cyclohexane into cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone, by hydrogen peroxide (as green oxidant) and at room temperature in acidic MeCN/H2O medium. An overall yield (based on cyclohexane) of 29% has been achieved.