SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND X-RAY CRYSTAL STRUCTURES OF TWO SCHIFF BASE COPPER(II) COMPLEXES WITH CATALYTIC PROPERTY

Two new copper(II) complexes, [Cu2(La)2(OAc)2]·2H2O (1) and [Cu(Lb)2] (2), where La and Lb are the deprotonated monoanionic form of 5-bromo-2-(ethylaminoethylimino)methyl)phenol (HLa) and 5-bromo-2-cyclohexyliminomethylphenol (HLb), respectively, have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared and electronic spectroscopy. Structures of both complexes were further determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Complexes 1 and 2 were synthesized from copper acetate with HLa and HLb, respectively in methanol. The Cu atoms in complex 1 are in octahedral coordination, while that in 2 is in square planar coordination. The two complexes have high catalytic property for the epoxidation of styrene, with conversions over 90% and selectivity over 85%.