Copper/TEMPO Redox Redux: Analysis of PCET Oxidation of TEMPOH by Copper(II) and the Reaction of TEMPO with Copper(I)

Copper salts and organic aminoxyls, such as TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine- N -oxyl), are versatile catalysts for aerobic alcohol oxidation. Previous reports in the literature contain conflicting proposals concerning the redox interactions that take place between copper(I) and copper(II) salts with the aminoxyl and hydroxylamine species, TEMPO and TEMPOH, respectively. Here, we reinvestigate these reactions in an effort to resolve the conflicting claims in the literature. Under anaerobic conditions, Cu II X 2 salts [X = acetate (OAc), trifluoroacetate (TFA), and triflate (OTf)] are shown to promote the rapid proton-coupled oxidation of TEMPOH to TEMPO: Cu II X 2 + TEMPOH → Cu I X + TEMPO + HX. In the reaction with acetate, however, slow reoxidation of Cu I OAc occurs. This process requires both TEMPO and HOAc and coincides with the reduction of TEMPO to 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine. Analogous reactivity is not observed with trifluoroacetate and triflate species. Overall, the facility of the proton-coupled oxidation of TEMPOH by Cu II salts suggests that this process could contribute to catalyst regeneration under aerobic oxidation conditions.