Four-electron reduction of dioxygen to water by a trinuclear copper complex

Abstract

The synthesis and characterization of a trinuclear copper complex 1 involving an amine based ligand system, tateb, are reported. Complex 1 acts as a catalyst for a four-electron four-proton reduction of dioxygen to water. 1 represents the first example of a biomimetic model of the trinuclear copper center in the multicopper oxidases. The mechanism of the O2-reduction reaction has been clarified based on kinetic studies on the overall catalytic reaction and by low-temperature detection of reactive intermediates.