Abstract

Copper(II) complexes of the ligands (6-methyl-2,2?-dipyridyl)methane (MeDPM) and (6,6?-dimethyl-2,2?-dipyridyl)methane (diMeDPM) were prepared and used as catalysts for the oxidation of 3,5-ditert-butylcatechol to 3,5-ditert-butyl-o-benzoquinone. The rate of reaction was determined in the presence and absence of base (KOH) in methanol. The kinetic data are interpretated, postulating two reactive species towards molecular oxygen: a copper(I) complex and a species described as a ternary copper(II) catecholate complex. © 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.