2,2′-Bipyridyl-acetylphenolato mixed ligand copper(II) complexes: syntheses, characterizations and catalytic activity in styrene epoxidation

Two copper(II) complexes, [Cu(bipy)(5-Br-2-hap)(ClO4)]2 (1) and [Cu(bipy)(2-hap)(ClO4)] (2) (where bipy?=?2,2'-bipyridine, 5-Br-2-hap?=?5-bromo-2-hydroxyacetophenone, 2-hap?=?2-hydroxyacetophenone), were synthesized and characterized. The crystal structure of 1 was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction while 2 was reported earlier. Structural characterization reveals that the presence of bromine in 5-Br-2-hap plays a structure-determining role in dimeric 1 in comparison with the mononuclear 2 where 2-hap was used. Studies of the catalytic potential toward styrene epoxidation in homogeneous system using H2O2 as oxidant reveal that 1 is more efficient than 2 with respect to epoxide selectivity.