Oxidative ortho C-C coupling of 4-ethylphenol by dual substrate activation at a bioinspired dicopper complex--trapping of an unusual oligophenolic Cu6 species.

Bioinspired dual activation: Dual activation within the bimetallic pocket of a bioinspired dicopper(II) complex suitably places two phenolato substrates for preferred ortho-ortho coupling. Spectroscopic data and the molecular structure of a unique Cu(6) complex isolated from the reaction mixture reveal a novel terphenolato ligand and provide a clue about the activation mechanism (see picture).