Preparation, identification and investigation of the crystal structure of bivalent copper complex with new ligand 3,3ʹ,3ʺ,3ʺʹ-(propane-1,2-diylbis(azanetriyl))tetrapropanoic acid

In this research, a new compound of tetramethyl-3,3ʹ,3ʺ,3ʺʹ-(propane-1,2-diylbis(azanetriyl))tetrapropionate (TPAT) was prepared from the reaction of propane-1,2-diamine and methyl acrylate in methanol solvent. The composition of TPAT in the base environment, simultaneously with the formation of the complex, was reaction to the ligand 3,3ʹ,3ʺ,3ʺʹ-(propane-1,2-diylbis(azanetriyl))tetrapropanoic acid (H4PAT). 3,3ʹ,3ʺ,3ʺʹ-(propane-1,2-diylbis(azanetriyl))tetrapropionate copper(II) complex [Cu(H2PAT)] was identified by FT-IR, 1H NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis (CHN) and its structure was determined by X-ray single crystal. H4PAT ligand is coordinated to copper atom through two nitrogen atoms, two oxygen atoms from propionate ion and one carbonyl group from propanoic acid and has a distorted square pyramidal geometry. This complex is crystallized in orthorhombic crystal system with space group Pna21 and Z=4 with a=14.1429(8) Å, b=14.1429(8) Å and c=9.9781(3) Å. The catalytic application of this complex was investigated. 2 mmol of [Cu(H2PAT)] complex was used for the coupling of phenyl bromide, under reflux conditions, without solvent in 120 minutes, and the biphenyl product was formed with 80% efficiency.