The phenolortho-oxygenation by mononuclear copper(i) complexes requires a dinuclear μ-η2∶η2-peroxodicopper(ii) complex rather than mononuclear CuO2 species

Abstract

The mononuclear complex [Cu(L)]⁺ performs the ortho-oxygenation of an exogeneous phenol through the formation of a dinuclear μ-η²∶η²-peroxodicopper(II) intermediate, which is so far the only type of copper–dioxygen complex that mediates the tyrosinase monophenolase reaction.