A new model for dioxygen binding in hemocyanin. Synthesis, characterization, and molecular structure of the .mu.-.eta.2:.eta.2 peroxo dinuclear copper(II) complexes, [Cu(HB(3,5-R2pz)3)]2(O2) (R = isopropyl and Ph)

The synthesis and characterization of μ-η 2 :η 2 peroxo dinuclear copper(II) complexes which to oxyhemocyanin (or oxytyrosinase) in their physicochemical properties are presented. The low-temperature reaction of a di-μ-hydroxo copper(II) complex [Cu(HB(3,5-i-Pr 2 pz) 3 )] 2 (OH) 2 (8) with H 2 O 2 gave a μ-peroxo complex [Cu(HB(3,5-i-Pr 2 pz) 3 )] 2 (O 2 ) (6)