Structural characterization and catalytic activities of copper complexes with pyridine-amine-phosphine-oxide ligand

A new tetradentate containing pyridine, amine and phosphine oxide donor systems (1) was synthesized by the condensation of o-diphenylphosphinoaniline with 2-pyridinecarbaldehyde. Reaction of 1 with equal molar amount of CuCl2 and Cu(ClO4)2 provided the formation of [CuCl2(1)] (4) and [[Cu(1)(H2O)](ClO4)2] (5), respectively. The ligand 1 behaves as a tridentate in 4, while as a tetradentate in 5. Both complexes were characterized by EPR, UV–Vis spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Both copper(II) complexes are in a square-pyramidal geometry. Single crystal structure of the copper complex reveals that the copper center is surrounded by three nitrogen donors and two chloride for 4; three nitrogen donors, water and oxygen donor from the moiety of phosphine oxide for 5. Complexation of 1 with CuCl in dichloromethane resulted in the formation of the corresponding copper(I) species, which catalyzed the oxidation of benzylic alcohols under aerobic conditions.