Aliphatic Hydroxylation by a Bis(µ-oxo)dicopper(III) Complex

By using molecular oxygen bis(µ-oxo)dicopper(III) complexes can be produced from Cu(I) complexes with ligand L(X) (L(X)=p-substituted N-ethyl-N-[2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl]-2-phenylethylamine; X=OMe, Me, H, Cl, NO(2)) in which the benzylic position of the ligand is activated and hydroxylated by the Cu(2)O(2) core (see reaction scheme). Detailed characterization of this new C-H bond activation reaction by the bis(µ-oxo)dicopper(III) core reveals important information on the fundamental chemistry underlying copper monooxygenase reactivity.