Modelling tyrosinase monooxygenase activity. Activation of dioxygen by dicopper(I) complexes and characterisation of dicopper(II) complexes

Activation of dioxygen on dicopper(I) centres was systematically investigated using a group of open-chain and a macrocyclic m-xylyl-based dinucleating ligand from a bioinorganic viewpoint. Even though intermediate peroxodicopper( II) species was not detected (even at –80C for the open-chain system), the putative intermediate reacted with C–H groups in ligands giving oxygenated products (C–OH groups). Absorption, spectroscopic and magnetic properties of the final dicopper(II) complexes have been investigated.