Cu(II) complexes with labile apical coordination: Synthesis, crystal structure, H NMR investigation, and oxidation properties of mononuclear [Cu(dien)(2-PhIm)(ClO4)] (1), [Cu(dien)(2-MeBzIm)] (2), complexes

The compounds [Cu(dien)(2-PhIm)(ClO₄)](ClO₄) (1); [Cu(dien)(2-MeBzIm)](ClO₄)₂ (2); where dien = diethylenetriamine, 2-PhIm = 2-phenylimidazole and 2-MeBzIm = 2-methylbenzimidazole, were synthesized and characterized. The complexes possessing [Cu(II)dien] moiety as common, the former containing 2-phenylimidazole, yielded square pyramidal geometry with apical perchlorate coordination [Cu1-O(5) = 2.449 Å], while the latter with 2-methylbenzimidazole formed square planar geometry with weak perchlorate contact [Cu1-O(8) = 2.596 Å] in its apical position. The effect of solvent and the variable temperature ¹H NMR investigation combinedly explore the geometrical rearrangement towards five coordination around Cu(II) metal center by accommodating the solvent molecule in its fifth coordination. Possessing easily labile perchlorate anion, both these complexes were investigated for their oxidation capability using 3,5-di-tert-butyl catechol (DTBC). The rate constant determined for the oxidation of DTBC to corresponding quinone indicates that they are catalytically quite similar and the k_cat of 1 ≈ 2. The crystal structure and the NMR investigations are discussed in detail.