Vanadium complexes with multidentate amine bisphenols

The reaction of VO(acac)2 (acac(-) = acetyl acetonate) with tripodal glycine bisphenol H3L(1) under an ambient atmosphere yields a hexacoordinated vanadium(iv) complex [V(acac)(L(1))] (1). The corresponding reactions with tripodal 2-propanolamine bisphenol H3L(2) and potentially pentadentate ethoxyethanolamine bisphenol H3L(3) lead to the oxidation of the metal centre and formation of mononuclear oxovanadium(v) complexes [VO(L(2))] (2) and [VO(L(3))] (3), respectively. Alternatively, these latter two complexes can be prepared using VOSO4·5H2O or VO(OPr)3 as a precursor. The CV of 1 in an ACN solution shows a reversible one-electron process at E1/2 = +1.18 V, whereas 2 and 3 have an irreversible redox response at -1.6 V and -1.2 V, respectively. Complexes 2 and 3 show moderate activity in the epoxidation of cis-cyclooctene by tert-BuOOH at 50 °C.