A polymer supported Cu(II) catalyst for oxidative amidation of benzyl alcohol and substituted amines in TBHP/H2O

A new polymer supported copper complex of 2,6-bis(benzimidazolyl)pyridine Cu(PS-BBP)Cl2 was prepared and characterized by elemental analyses, AAS, ESR, IR and UV-Vis spectral studies, magnetic moment measurement and thermogravimetric analyses. A facile oxidative coupling of alcohols and amines to synthesize amides was developed using Cu(PS-BBP)Cl2 as a catalyst and tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as an oxidant using water as a solvent in a one-pot process. The optimum conditions were determined for the reaction of benzyl alcohol and benzylamine by varying solvents, temperature, substrate to TBHP ratio and catalyst concentration and the yield resulted was found to be 95%. The catalyst showed excellent catalytic activity and reusability. A tentative reaction mechanism has been proposed.