Homogeneous and supported copper complexes of cyclic and open-chain polynitrogenated ligands as catalysts of cyclopropanation reactions

CuI and CuII complexes of cyclic and open-chain polyaza compounds have been tested as catalysts in the benchmark cyclopropanation reaction of styrene with ethyl diazoacetate. In general, only small amounts of copper are needed to promote the reaction. The catalytic activity depends on the structure of the ligand, e.g. amine–amides are more efficient than polyamines, and on the oxidation state of copper, CuII being more active than CuI. Given that CuI is the active species, these changes of behavior must be related to the stabilities of the complexes. The nature of the counterion also has a noticeable influence on the catalytic activity, the role of which is discussed. XAS measurements sugge…