Copper(I) complexes with the hexaazafulleroid C60(NR)6, derived from (2S,4S)-4-azido-1-benzyloxycarbonyl-2-(t-butylaminocarbonyl)pyrrolidine as multitopic ligand. Catalytic properties in oxidation of sulfides

Reactions in a molar ratio 1:6 of the hexaazafulleroid C60(NR)6 (1), derived from the chiral azide (2S,4S)-4-azido-1-benzyloxycarbonyl-2-(t-butylaminocarbonyl)pyrrolidine (2), with the copper(I) complexes [Cu(MeCN)4]ClO4 and [CuCl(cod)]2 (cod=1,5-cyclooctadiene) lead to the polymetallated species C60[(NR)Cu(MeCN)2(ClO4)]6 (3) and C60[(NR)CuCl(cod)]6·2CuCl (4), respectively, which have been characterised by IR, 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopies and by mass spectrometry techniques (ES-, FAB- and MALDI-MS). The performance of both complexes as catalysts in the oxidation of alkylphenylsulfides [methylphenylsulfide, (2-ethylbutyl)phenylsulfide] was evaluated.