Novel tetranuclear copper 2 + 4 cubanes resulting from unprecedented C-O bond formation cum dearomatization

Abstract

Novel tetranuclear copper 2 + 4 cubanes 1 and 2 have been synthesized from the reaction of hydrated copper salts/precursors with N,O chelating β-ketoaminato ligands. Creation of 1 and 2 occurs by in situ generation of the tridentate chelating species HL1O2-via copper mediated C-O bond formation and dearomatization of H3L1, while anhydrous salts afforded mononuclear complex 3. © 2014 The Royal Society of Chemistry.