Synthesis, characterization, and tyrosinase biomimetic catalytic activity of copper(II) complexes with schiff base ligands derived from α-diketones with 2-methyl-3-amino-(3H)-quinazolin-4-one

A template condensation of α-diketones (biacetyl, benzile and 2,3-pentanedione) with 2-methyl-3-amino-(3H)-quinazolin-4-one (AMQ) in the presence of CuX2 (X = Cl−, Br−, NO3- or ClO4-) resulted in the formation of tetradentate Schiff base copper(II) complexes of the type [CuLX]X and [CuL]X2. Structural characterization of the complex species was achieved by several physicochemical methods, namely elemental analysis, electronic spectra, IR, ESR, molar conductivity, thermal analysis (TAG & DTG), and magnetic moment measurements. The stereochemistry, the nature of the metal chelates, and the catalytic reactivity are markedly dependent upon the type of counter anions and the ligand substituent within the carbonyl moiety. A square planar monomeric structure is proposed for the perchlorate, nitrate, and bromide complexes, in which the counter anions are loosely bonded to copper(II) ion. For the chloride complexes, the molar conductivities and the spectral data indicated that they have square-pyramidal environments around copper(II) center. The reported copper(II) complexes exhibit promising tyrosinase catalytic activity towards the hydroxylation of phenol followed by the aerobic oxidation of the resulting catechol. A linear correlation almost exists between the catalytic reactivity and the Lewis-acidity of the central copper(II) ion created by the donating properties of the parent ligand. The steric considerations could be accounted to clarify the difference in the catalytic activity of these functional models.

► A template condensation of α-diketones with amino quinazolinone yielded Cu(II) complexes.
► The nature of the chelates and their reactivity are dependent upon the type of counter anions and the ligand substituents.
► The reported copper(II) complexes exhibit promising tyrosinase like catalytic activity.
► A linear correlation exists between the catalytic reactivity and the Lewis-acidity of the central copper(II) ion.