Ferrocenyl-substituted dinuclear Cu(II) complex: Synthesis, spectroscopy, electrochemistry, DFT calculations and catecholase activity

•Ferrocenyl-substituted heterocyclic hydrazide and its Cu(II) complex were prepared.•DFT calculated spectral data were consistent with the experimental data.•Homodinuclear Cu(II) complex shows catecholase like activity.

A new ferrocenyl-substituted heterocyclic hydrazide ligand and its Cu(II) complex were prepared. The DFT calculations were performed to determine the electronic and molecular structures of the title compounds. The electronic spectra were calculated by using time-dependent DFT method, and the transitions were correlated with the molecular orbitals of the compounds. The bands assignments of IR spectra were achieved in the light of the theoretical vibrational spectral data and total energy distribution values calculated at DFT/B3LYP/6–311++G(d,p) level. The redox behaviors of the ferrocene derivatives were investigated by cyclic voltammetry. The compounds show reversible redox couple assignable to Fc+/Fc couple. The copper(II) complex behaves as an effective catalyst towards oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol to its corresponding quinone derivative in DMF saturated with O2. The reaction follows Michaelis–Menten enzymatic reaction kinetics with turnover numbers 2.32 × 103.

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