Synthesis, crystal structure and catecholase activity of a vanadium(V) Schiff base complex

Abstract

An X-ray structurally characterized vanadium(V) complex, [VO2(L–H)] [L–H = H2L derived ligand (H2L = N,N′-(salicyaldimine)-1,3-diaminopropan-2-ol], was found to behave as an effective catalyst towards the oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol in methanol to its corresponding quinone derivative in aerial oxygen. The reaction follows Michaelis–Menten enzymatic reaction kinetics with a turnover number (Kcat) of 2.063 × 103 h−1.