Mechanistic Insight into Olefin Epoxidation Catalyzed by Rhenium(V) Oxo Complexes That Contain Pyridazine-Based Ligands

Three novel tridentate pyridazine phenolate ligands were prepared in high yields by Schiff-base condensation of salicylic aldehyde with various pyridazine hydrazines (substituent R in the 6 position: R = Cl (HL Cl ), tBu (HL tBu ), or tol (HL tol )). They react with [ReOCl3(OPPh3)(SMe2)] to form rare mononuclear trans-dichloro oxo complexes of general formula [ReOCl2(LR)] with R = tol (1), tBu (2), or Cl (3) as confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses of 1 and 2. They were found to be catalysts for oxidation of cyclooctene to the corresponding epoxide by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP). Extensive UV–vis and NMR spectroscopic investigations followed by evaluation using the powerful Mauser method revealed mechanistic details. This showed the catalyst precursor [ReOCl2(L)] (2) to be transformed into the rhenium(VII) compound [ReO3L] (4) in a two-step reaction via intermediate INT which is tentatively assigned to [ReO2L]. Confirmation gave the isolation of 4 by reaction of 2 with excess of TBHP. Monitoring the catalytic oxidation reaction by UV–vis spectroscopy clearly excludes the two rhenium(V) compounds 2 and INT from being the catalytically active species as their formation is several orders of magnitude faster than the observed catalytic epoxidation reaction.