Synthesis and structural characterization of a dinuclear copper(II) complex with a (N,S) donor ligand: Catecholase and phenoxazinone synthase activities

[Cu-2(II)(L)(2)Cl-4] (1) [L = 2-(benzylthio)ethanamine] has been synthesized and characterized using spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic results. Structural analyses reveal bidentate chelation behaviour of the neutral L having a distorted square pyramidal coordination environment around each copper(II) with one L, one chloride and two bridging chloro. 1 behaves as an effective catalyst towards oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol to its corresponding quinone with molecular oxygen and also the coupling of o-aminophenol to its phenoxazinone chromophore in methanolic solutions with turnover numbers 2.18 x 10(2) h(-1) (catecholase activity, MeOH), and 3.60 x 10(2) h(-1) (phenoxazinone synthase activity, MeOH) and 2.36 x 10(2) h(-1) (Phenoxazinone synthase activity, MeCN).