Phenalenyl-based ligand for transition metal chemistry: Application in Henry reaction

We report the synthesis and characterization of the first transition metal complex of a phenalenyl-based ligand. The reaction of Cu(OAc)(2)center dot H2O with 9-N-methylamino-1-N'-methylimino-phenalene (LH) in 1:1 stoichiometric ratio results in the formation of a mononuclear copper complex [LCu(OAc)] (1). The molecular structure of 1 was established by X-ray crystallography. The electrochemistry of 1 indicates the formation of an anionic radical by one electron reduction into the non-bonding molecular orbital of the phenalenyl system. The complex 1 efficiently catalyses the C-C bond forming Henry reaction.