The ability of pyridyltriazole copper macrocycles for hosting small molecules and their stability/reactivity towards air has been investigated. We report the synthesis and characterization of four functionalized meta-xylylenebis(pyridyltriazole) (m-xpt) ligands (L1–L4; see Figure a) and their Cu complexes. Ascorbate reduces the Cu(II) complexes to Cu(I). [CuI2(L3)2]2+, with its electron withdrawing NO2 groups, is stable in air. The other three complexes produce varying mixtures of carbonate-bridged Cu(II) trimers, [CuII3(L)3(m3-CO3)]4+, and oxalate-bridged Cu(II) dimers, [CuII2(L)2(m2-C2O4)]2+. The oxalate in the latter complexes was originally thought to arise from reduction of CO2, but we now know that it comes from air oxidation of ascorbate (and dehydroascorbic acid).

Functionalized pyridyltriazole Cu complexes and their ligand-dependent reactivity with air

ACS Spring 2022

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