SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF SOME PEROXO COMPLEXES OF ZIRCONIUM

The peroxo complexes of zirconium using bidentate, tridentate and tetradentate ligands have been synthesized and characterized. Oxidation studies showed that when Ph3P, cyclohexene and allylalcohol were involved, the peroxo complexes with the tetradentate ligand failed to oxidize Ph3P while the one with the bidentate ligand did. The peroxo complexes involving bidentate and tetradentate ligands gave peroxide when cyclohexene (the substrate) in the presence of tert-butyl hydroperoxide as oxidant was oxidized. The peroxo complexes with the bidentate ligand gave higher yields of peroxide compared with the tetradentate ligand complex. The peroxo complexes failed to oxidize stoichiometrically allylalcohol and cyclohexene. This shows that peroxo complexes containing the tetradentate moiety are more stable. © 1990.