The Evolution of Reactive Ligands in the Catalysis of Radical Processes by Copper Complexes

Abstract Two radical reactions (addition of CCl4 to the double bond of oct-1-ene and oxidation of dodecane-1-thiol with air oxygen) catalyzed by copper complexes have been investigated. Various nitrogen-containing compounds (aliphatic and aromatic amines, aminoalcohols, aminoacids) were used as the ligands. In both cases, products of ligand transformation have been observed, products of the transformations have been identified by GLC-MS. In case of the CCl4 addition, the reaction can be initiated by the either copper complex or the ligand. In case of the thiol coupling, the reaction proceeds as a conjugated oxidation of both the thiol and the ligand. A correlation between the donor ability of the ligand and its reactivity has been found.