Magnetic and catalytic properties of a new copper(II)–Schiff base 2D coordination polymer formed by connected helical chains

A dicyanamide bridged 2D polynuclear complex of copper(II) having molecular formula [Cu2(L)(μ1,5-dca)2]n (1) has been synthesized using the Schiff base ligand N,N′-bis(salicylidene)-1,3-diaminopentane, (H2L) and sodium dicyanamide (dca). The complex presents a 2D hexagonal structure formed by 1,5-dca singly bridged helical chains connected through double 1,5-dca bridges. The chelating characteristics of the H2L Schiff base ligand results in the formation of copper(II) dimer with a double phenoxo bridge presenting a very strong antiferromagnetic coupling in the copper(II) derivative (1) (J = −510 cm−1). The dimeric asymmetric unit of 1 is very similar to the active site of the catechol oxidase and, as expected, also presents catalytic activity for the oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol to 3,5-di-tert-butylquinone in presence of O2, as demonstrated by kinetic studies of this oxidation reaction monitored by absorption spectroscopy resulting in high turnover number (Kcat = 259 h−1).