Coordination compounds from the planar tridentate Schiff-base ligand 2-methoxy-6-((quinolin-8-ylimino)methyl)phenol (mqmpH) with several transition metal ions: Use of [FeIII(mqmp)(CH3OH)Cl2] in the catalytic oxidation of alkanes and alkenes

Four coordination compounds were synthesized in high yields from different transition metal ions (FeIII, CoII, and CuII) and an in situ generated Schiff-base ligand, i.e. 2-methoxy-6-((quinolin-8-ylimino)methyl)phenol (mqmpH). The compounds were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, ESI-MS, IR spectroscopy, and ligand-field spectroscopy. The iron(III) complex is an efficient catalyst for the oxidation of alkanes and alkenes, under relatively mild conditions and with dihydrogen peroxide as terminal oxidant.

Graphical abstractFour new complexes of different transition metal ions (FeIII, CoII, CuII) have been synthesized using a tridentate NNO-donor Schiff-base ligand. All the complexes have been characterized with single crystal X-ray diffraction, and several spectroscopic techniques (IR, UV–Vis, ESI-MS). The FeIII-complex was found to be efficient for catalytic oxidation of several alkanes and alkenes.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide