Encapsulation of tricopper cluster in a synthetic cryptand enables facile redox processes from CuICuICuI to CuIICuIICuII states

Abstract

One-pot reaction of tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (TREN), [Cu^I(MeCN)₄]PF₆, and paraformaldehyde affords a mixed-valent [TREN₄Cu^IICu^ICu^I(μ₃-OH)](PF₆)₃ complex. The macrocyclic azacryptand TREN₄ contains four TREN motifs, three of which provide a bowl-shape binding pocket for the [Cu₃(μ₃-OH)]³⁺ core. The fourth TREN caps on top of the tricopper cluster to form a cryptand, imposing conformational constraints and preventing solvent interaction. Contrasting the limited redox capability of synthetic tricopper complexes reported so far, [TREN₄Cu^IICu^ICu^I(μ₃-OH)](PF₆)₃ exhibits several reversible single-electron redox events. The distinct electrochemical behaviors of [TREN₄Cu^IICu^ICu^I(μ₃-OH)](PF₆)₃ and its solvent-exposed analog [TREN₃Cu^IICu^IICu^II(μ₃-O)](PF₆)₄ suggest that isolation of tricopper core in a cryptand enables facile electron transfer, allowing potential application of synthetic tricopper complexes as redox catalysts. Indeed, the fully reduced [TREN₄Cu^ICu^ICu^I(μ₃-OH)](PF₆)₂ can reduce O₂ under acidic conditions. The geometric constraints provided by the cryptand are reminiscent of Nature's multicopper oxidases (MCOs). For the first time, a synthetic tricopper cluster was isolated and fully characterized at Cu^ICu^ICu^I (4a), Cu^IICu^ICu^I (4b), and Cu^IICu^IICu^I (4c) states, providing structural and spectroscopic models for many intermediates in MCOs. Fast electron transfer rates (10⁵ to 10⁶ M⁻¹ s⁻¹) were observed for both Cu^ICu^ICu^I/Cu^IICu^ICu^I and Cu^IICu^ICu^I/Cu^IICu^IICu^I redox couples, approaching the rapid electron transfer rates of copper sites in MCO.