在第一個研究中，我們成功合成一新穎的三核銅金屬簇離子化合物 [CuICuICuI(7-dipy)](BF4) (2)，可成功催化氧化環己烷的 CH 鍵 (CH 鍵能為 99.3 kcal mol-1)。並藉由 ESI-MS 光譜證實經氧氣可得穩定的三核銅金屬簇含氧離子化合物 [CuIICuII(-O)CuII(7-dipy)](BF4)2 (3)。在室溫、常壓下利用 50 當量的 H2O2 催化氧化環己烷的 CH 鍵，根據 GC-MS 光譜定量分析及氧化劑的消耗量，可得轉換率 34% 的環己醇和環己酮的混合產物。然而，當利用 [CuIICuII(-O)CuII(7-dipy)](BF4)2 (3) 化合物取代 [CuICuICuI(7-dipy)](BF4) (2) 在相同反應條件下對氧化環己烷是幾乎沒有反應的。此外，[CuICuICuI(7-dipy)](BF4) (2) 進行催化反應後，仍可由 ESI-MS 光譜確認也可得到 [CuIICuII(-O)CuII(7-dipy)](BF4)2 (3) 化合物，證實此三核銅金屬簇離子化合物是一相當強健的催化劑。
在第二個研究中，我們利用相同的 7-dipy 配位基成功合成三核錳金屬簇離子化合物，首先合成出 [MnII(OAc)2MnII(-OAc)2MnII(7-dipy)] (2) 作為高價態的錳金屬簇離子化合物的前驅物。接著，藉由二當量 TBHP (tert-butylhydroperoxide)氧化 [MnII(OAc)2MnII(-OAc)2MnII(7-dipy)] (2) 可得一組 16 根特徵吸收之 EPR 光譜，由模擬軟體可得 gx= 2.006, gy= 1.998, gz= 1.985, AIIIxx= -16.3 mT, AIIIyy= -11.7 mT, AIIIzz= -16.2 mT, AIVxx= 8.2 mT, AIVyy= 8.0 mT, AIVzz= 7.4 mT，在此假定得到一活性中間體 [MnIIIMnIII(-O)2MnIV(7-dipy)]4+ (3) 化合物。當加入過量的 TBHP 至 15 當量時，仍可看到16 根特徵吸收之 EPR 光譜。 [MnIIIMnIII(-O)2MnIV(7-dipy)]4+ (3) 可催化氧化環己烷 (CH 鍵能為 99.3 kcal mol-1) 得到環己醇和環己酮的混合產物，亦可氧化正己烷的第二號及第三號碳位置上的 CH 鍵 (CH 鍵能分別為 98 kcal mol-1 和 99.1 kcal mol-1) 可得2-己醇、3-己醇、2-己酮、3-己酮的混合產物。此催化劑除了氧化二級碳 (secondary carbon) 上的 CH 鍵外，利用乙烷當作受質，可氧化一級碳上的CH 鍵 (CH 鍵能為 101 kcal mol-1)，得到 6 個氧化當量的乙酸產物。利用同樣的催化劑以乙醇當作受質，也會被氧化形成乙酸產物，為氧化乙烷分子的間接佐證。

In first study, a new modified trinuclear copper complex,
[CuICuICuI(7-dipy)](BF4) (2), was first employed as a catalyst to oxidize the CH bonds of cyclohexane (CH BDE is 99.3 kcal mol-1). ESI-MS spectra demonstrate that the oxygenation of [CuICuICuI(7-dipy)](BF4) (2)either by dioxygen will obtain a stable [CuIICuII(-O)CuII(7-dipy)](BF4 )2(3) complex. The catalysis of CH bond oxygenation of cyclohexane was carried out under room temperature in the presence of 50 equivalents of oxidant, and a product mixture of cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone were observed with 34% conversion according to the consuming of the oxidant by the quantitative GC-MS analysis. However, there is nearly no reaction by employing [CuIICuII(-O)CuII(7-dipy)](BF4)2 (3) complex instead of [CuICuICuI(7-dipy)](BF4) (2). This tricopper complex is a quite robust catalyst because most the remainders after the catalytic reaction are in the form of [CuIICuII(-O)CuII(7-dipy)](BF4)2 (3)evidenced by ESI-MS spectra.
In second study, the same 7-dipy ligand was also adopted in the synthesis of trinuclear manganese complex. A first trimanganese complex [MnII(OAc)2MnII(-OAc)2MnII(7-dipy)] (2) was first synthesized as a precursor for the high-valent manganese species. Further oxidation of [MnII(OAc)2MnII(-OAc)2MnII(7-dipy)] (2) by treating two equivalents of TBHP (tert-butylhydroperoxide) is able to obtain a 16-line characteristic EPR spectrum with gx= 2.006, gy= 1.998, gz= 1.985, AIII xx=-16.3 mT, AIII yy= -11.7 mT, AIII zz= -16.2 mT, AIV xx= 8.2 mT, AIV yy= 8.0 mT, AIV zz= 7.4 mT acquired by simulation, which is postulated as a active intermediate, [MnIIIMnIII(-O)2MnIV(7-dipy)]4+ (3). While excess of TBHP up to 15 equivalents were added, and the 16-line EPR spectra still remain unchanged. [MnIIIMnIII(-O)2MnIV(7-dipy)]4+ (3) is able to catalyze the oxidation of CH bonds of cyclohexane (CH BDE is 99.3 kcal mol-1) to a mixture of cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone, CH bonds of n-hexane in the C-2 and C-3 position (CH BDE is 98 kcal mol-1 and 99.1 kcal mol-1, respectively) to a mixture of 2-hexanol, 3-hexanol, 2-hexanone and 3-hexanone. Except the CH bond oxidation in the secondary carbon atom position, ethane molecule which merely has primary CH bonds (CH BDE is 101 kcal mol-1) was applied as the substrate, and the suspected acetic acid product involving 6 oxidation equivalents was found. Ethanol molecule (CH BDE is 95.6 kcal mol-1) as the substrate was also oxidized in the same catalysis to form the acetic acid product, providing the support for the oxidation of ethane molecule.

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