Single end to end azido bridged adduct of a tridentate schiff base copper(II) complex: Synthesis, structure, magnetism and catalytic studies

Copper(II) azido complex [CuL(μ-1,3-N3)]n (1) of a NNO donor tridentate Schiff base (HL = 2-[1-(methylamino-ethylimino)-methyl]-phenol containing single end-to-end μ-1,3-azido bridged 1D infinite chain has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy. X-ray single crystal structure analysis reveals that in 1, the central copper(II) ion displays a distorted square pyramidal coordination geometry and are linked by single EE azide bridges forming chains running parallel to the crystallographic b axis. The magnetic interaction revealed that 1 is antiferromagnetic in nature (J = −19.5 (±0.2) cm−1). The catalytic activity of the complex is investigated in a series of solvents for the oxidation of olefins using tert-butyl-hydroperoxide as oxidant. The results showed highest selectivity for 1 in acetonitrile medium.