A binuclear Cu(II) complex as an efficient photocatalyst for N -alkylation of aromatic amines.

Visible-light driven photoreactions using transition metal complexes as catalysts are currently a research hotspot in developing environmentally friendly sustainable processes. To develop a potential copper-based photocatalyst, a binuclear Cu(II) complex has been synthesized using a Mannich base ligand viz . 2,4-dichloro-6-((4-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazin-1-yl)methyl)phenol ( H 2 L ). The photocatalyst has been characterized using ESI-MS and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Under the irradiation of visible light, the catalyst can catalyze hydrogen auto-transfer in N -alkylated amine formation and benzyl alcohol oxidation reactions with excellent conversion. A plausible mechanistic pathway for catalytic reactions has been explored through ESI-MS spectrometric, UV-Vis spectroscopic and computational studies.