Bio-inspired Cu(II) amido-quinoline complexes as catalysts for aromatic C–H bond hydroxylation.

Cu(II) complexes supported by tetradentate amido-quinoline acyclic ligands (L1 & L2) have been synthesized, characterized, and employed as catalysts for aromatic C–H hydroxylation using H2O2 as an oxidant in the absence of an external base with a high selectivity of around 90% for phenols via the non-radical pathway (TON ≥720). The KIE value, various spectroscopic studies and DFT calculation supported the involvement of Cu(II)–OOH species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]