1) Two ligand series will be explored as catalysts supports for Cu-catalyzed alcohol oxidation. More specifically, the bidentate pyridine-triazole (py-trz) ligands and the tetradentate amine-triazole compounds of the type N,N'-bis(triazolyl)methyl-benzene-1,2-diamine will be prepared. Their corresponding CuII complexes will be synthesized and investigated as catalysts for alcohol oxidation reactions to aldehydes under mild conditions. The electronic effect from different triazole substituents on catalytic activities will be evaluated. Activity and selectivity of these new catalyst systems and those of the known pyridine-based Cu catalysts will be compared and discussed.
2) The bis(triazolyl)methanol compounds will be prepared and the corresponding PdII complexes will be synthesized and characterized. Variation of substituents at the N1 position of the triazole ring will be carried out and the ligands electronic effect on catalyst efficiency toward Pd-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reactions will be determined.
