Synthesis, structure, and catalytic bromination of supramolecular oxovanadium complexes containing oxalate

Abstract

Three supramolecular complexes, [VO(phen)(C₂O₄)(H₂O)]·CH₃OH (1) [(VO)₂(u₂-C₂O₄)(C₂O₄)₂(H₂O)₂]·L·H₂O (2), and [(4,4′-bipyH₂)_0.5]⁺[VO₂(2,6-dipic)]⁻·2H₂O (3) (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline 4,4′-bipy = 4,4′-bipyridine, 2,6-dipic = 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic, L = 1,4-bis((3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)methyl)benzene), have been prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, and UV–vis spectroscopy and single-crystal diffraction analysis. Structural analysis shows that the three complexes all contain carboxylate and V=O moiety; vanadium of 1 and 2 are six coordinate with distorted octahedral geometry with N₂O₄ and O₆ donor sets, respectively, while 3 is five coordinate with distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry with a NO₄ donor set. The complexes exhibit catalytic bromination activity in the single-pot reaction for the conversion of phenol red to bromophenol blue in H₂O–DMF at 30 ± 0.5 C with pH 5.8, indicating that they can be considered as functional model vanadium-dependent haloperoxidases. In addition, electrochemical behaviors are also studied.

Keywords:

• Vanadium complex
• Hydrogen bonds
• Electrochemistry
• Bromination reaction activity

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the grants of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21071071) and Dr start Foundation of Liaoning province in China (No. 20111067) for financial assistance.