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Four copper(II) complexes, [Cu(4)(O)(L(n))(2)(CH(3)COO)(4)] with N(2)O-donor Schiff-base ligands, where HL(1) = 4-methyl-2,6-bis(cyclohexylmethyliminomethyl)phenol for complex 1, HL(2) = 4-methyl-2,6-bis(phenylmethyliminomethyl)phenol for complex 2 x CH(3)CN, HL(3) = 4-methyl-2,6-bis(((3-tri-fluoromethyl)phenyl)methyliminomethyl)phenol for complex 3, HL(4) = 4-methyl-2,6-bis(((4-tri-fluoromethyl)phenyl)methyliminomethyl)phenol for complex 4, were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, UV-vis spectroscopy and finally by single crystal X-ray diffraction study. X-Ray analysis reveals that all of these are mu(4)-oxo-bridged tetrameric copper(II) complexes. Four copper atoms arrange themselves around an oxygen atom tetrahedrally. Magnetic susceptibility measurements show the existence of very strong antiferromagnetic coupling among these ions (J = -210.1 to -271.3 cm(-1)), mediated by the oxygen atoms. Catalysis of the epoxidation of cyclohexene, styrene, alpha-methylstyrene and trans-stilbene by these complexes has been carried out homogeneously as well as heterogeneously by immobilizing the metal complexes over 2D-hexagonal mesoporous silica. The results obtained in both the catalytic conditions show that the olefins are converted to the respective epoxides in good yield together with high selectivity.

Substitution of the acetonitrile ligands in Fe4Cu2C(CO)12(MeCN)2 with bidentate L–L ligands, such as 4,4′-bipyridine (bipy), pyrazine (pyz) or p-dicyanobenzene (p-DCB), gives rise to either infinite [Fe4Cu2(μ6-C)(CO)12(μ-L–L)]∞ zigzag chain polymers or to [Fe4Cu2(μ6-C)(CO)12(μ-L–L)]4·8THF square oligomers, as a function of the crystallization solvent.