THE REACTION OF ACETONE WITH [CU(EN)(2)](2- THE CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE OF THE COPPER(II)-BETA-AMINOKETONE COMPLEX INITIALLY FORMED AND THE KINETICS OF ITS BASE-CATALYZED CONVERSION TO THE COPPER(II) COMPLEX OF TRANS[14]DIENEN(4)() )

The copper(II) complex of the beta-aminoketone 11,11-pentamethyl-5,8,1 2-triazatetradec-8-en-2-one (L), [CuL](ClO4)(2) . MeCN has been prepar ed and its structure established by X-ray crystallography. C18H37N5O9C l2Cu, triclinic, space group P (1) over bar, a = 10.752(9), b = 15.980 (10), c = 8.112(7), alpha = 100.24(7), beta = 95.43(7), gamma = 93.54( 6), V = 1361(1) Angstrom(3), Z = 2. In basic solution the complex unde rgoes base-catalysed ring closure to give the copper(II) complex of th e macrocycle trans[14]dieneN(4). The kinetics of the ring closure reac tion have been studied in detail Ring closure occurs by an intramolecu lar reaction involving the hydroxocomplex [CuLOH](+).