Abstract

The hybrid 2D compound [{Cu(bpy)}2O (1), has been investigated due to itsinteresting magnetic and catalytic properties. Compound (1) acts as an efficient catalyst in the epoxidation of cyclohexene and styrene. The chemoselectivity towards the epoxidation of cyclohexene is notoriously higher than the one observed towards styrene. The bulk antiferromagnetic behaviour of [{Cu(bpy)}2(VO)3(PO4)2(HPO4)2]2H2(VO)3(PO4)2(HPO4)2]H2O (1) can be well described with a pentanuclear model, using five J values. Both antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic interactions mediated by phosphate bridges are found to be present in this hybrid copper(II)–vanadium(IV) material.