Diastereomerism in tetranuclear copper(II) complexes of a phenol based “end-off” compartmental ligand

► Syntheses and structural characterization of diastereomeric tetranuclear Cu(II) complexes. ► Study of catacholase like activity exhibited by diastereomeric Cu(II) complexes. ► DFT analysis to rationalize the formation of two diastereomers. ► Characterization of the intermediate formed during catechol oxidation by ESI-MS study.