Electrocatalytic aerobic epoxidation of alkenes: Experimental and DFT investigation

A new method for electrocatalytic aerobic epoxidation of alkenes catalyzed by binuclear Cu(II) complexes with azomethine ligands based on 2,6-diformyl-4-tert-butylphenol is described. In acetonitrile–water (5%), at the potential of CuII/CuI redox couple (–0.8 V vs. Ag/AgCl/KCl) at room temperature the epoxide is obtained in an average yield of around 50%. Contrary to the majority of known epoxidations, no strong oxidants are involved and no free hydrogen peroxide is formed in the reaction, thus making it ecologically friendly. The DFT quantum-chemical modeling of the reaction mechanism revealed that a copper hydroperoxo-complex rather than hydrogen peroxide or a copper oxo-complex oxidizes alkene. The process is very selective since neither products of hydroxylation of benzene ring in styrene nor of allylic oxidation of cyclohexene were detected.