Ortho-Hydroxylation of Phenol by Tyrosinase Model Compounds

A series of tyrosinase model ligands and complexes containing polyimidazoles were prepared. 2, 4-Di-tert-butyl-phenol was ortho-hydroxylated by the binuclear copper (I) complex [Cu2(6a)(CH3CN)2](ClO4)2 8a and molecular dioxygen under mild conditions with up to 80.4% yield, 91.4% selectivity and 92.0% conversion.