An Unstable Ligand-Unsupported CuI Dimer Stabilized in a Supramolecular Framework

Copper-Catalyzed Monooxygenation of Phenols: Evidence for a Mononuclear Reaction Mechanism

The CuI salts [Cu(CH3 CN)4 ]PF and [Cu(oDFB)2 ]PF with the very weakly coordinating anion Al(OC(CF3 )3 )4- (PF) as well as [Cu(NEt3 )2 ]PF comprising the unique, linear bis-triethylamine complex [Cu(NEt3 )2 ]+ were synthesized and examined as catalysts for the conversion of monophenols to o-quinones. The activities of these CuI salts towards monooxygenation of 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol (DTBP-H) were compared to those of [Cu(CH3 CN)4 ]X salts with "classic" anions (BF4- , OTf- , PF6- ), revealing an anion effect on the activity of the catalyst and a ligand effect on the reaction rate. The reaction is drastically accelerated by employing CuII -semiquinone complexes as catalysts, indicating that formation of a CuII complex precedes the actual catalytic cycle. This result and other experimental observations show that with these systems the oxygenation of monophenols does not follow a dinuclear, but a mononuclear pathway analogous to that of topaquinone cofactor biosynthesis in amine oxidase.

Linear Copper Complex Arrays as Versatile Molecular Strings: Syntheses, Structures, Luminescence, and Magnetism

The defined linear arrangement of metal atoms in discrete coordination complexes or polymers is still one of the most intriguing challenges in synthetic chemistry. These chain arrangements are of fundamental importance, because of their potential applications as molecular wires and single molecule magnets (SMM) in microelectronic devices on a molecular scale. Oligonuclear Group 11 metal complexes with suitable bridging ligands, specifically those that are based on copper as the first choice of a cheap precursor coinage metal, are of particular interest in this regard. This is due to the superior luminescence properties of these linear clusters that often show d¹⁰ ⋅⋅⋅d¹⁰ interactions in their molecular structures. The combination of Cu^I with heavier coinage metal ions results in tunable emissive arrays that are also stimuli-responsive. Thus, both linear multinuclear Cu^I and linear heteropolymetallic Cu^I /Ag^I as well as Cu^I /Au^I clusters are excellent candidates for applications in molecular/organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs). Alternatively, paramagnetic multinuclear cupric arrays are prominent as potential molecular wires with enhanced magnetic properties through multiple coupled d⁹ centers. This Review covers the whole range of linear multinuclear assemblies of cuprous and cupric ions in complexes and coordination polymers, their syntheses, photophysical behavior, and magnetic properties. Moreover, recent advances in the rapidly progressing field of hetero-Cu^I /Ag^I and Cu^I /Au^I molecular strings are also discussed.

Experimental evidence for the involvement of dinuclear alkynylcopper(I) complexes in alkyne-azide chemistry

Dinuclear alkynylcopper(I) ladderane complexes are prepared by a robust and simple protocol involving the reduction of Cu(2)(OH)(3)OAc or Cu(OAc)(2) by easily oxidised alcohols in the presence of terminal alkynes; they function as efficient catalysts in copper-catalysed alkyne-azide cycloaddition reactions as predicted by the Ahlquist-Fokin calculations. The same copper(I) catalysts are formed during reactions by using the Sharpless-Fokin protocol. The experimental results also provide evidence that sodium ascorbate functions as a base to deprotonate terminal alkynes and additionally give a convincing alternative explanation for the fact that the Cu(I)-catalysed reactions of certain 1,3-diazides with phenylacetylene give bis(triazoles) as the major products. The same dinuclear alkynylcopper(I) complexes also function as catalysts in cycloaddition reactions of azides with 1-iodoalkynes.

The Nature of the AgI⋅⋅⋅AgI Interaction in Different Ag(NH3)2 Dimers Embedded in Supramolecular Solids

An isolated silver(I) ammonia monomer, a dimer, and a novel dimer containing an intercalated water molecule have been embedded as guests in supramolecular frameworks, [Ag(NH3)2][(H2thpe)(H3thpe)].MeCN (1), [{Ag(NH3)2}2][(H2thpe)2]4.25 H2O (2), and [{Ag(NH3)2}-H2O-{Ag(NH3)2}][(H2thpe)(2)]benzene (3) (H3THPE=tris(hydroxyphenyl)ethane). The [{Ag(NH3)2}2]2+ dimer is not stable as an isolated entity, but is stabilized by hydrogen bonding in the supramolecular framework. The water-intercalated silver(I) ammonia dimer, which constitutes a novel species, is also subject by hydrogen bonding in concentrated solutions. The destabilization energy of the dimer relative to isolated monomers is calculated to be approximately 300 kJ mol(-1) by both perturbation methods and DFT theory. For the water-intercalated dimer it is calculated to be approximately 200 kJ mol(-1) according to the BSSE-corrected MP2 calculation. The different aggregate states show a dramatic variation of absorption and emission properties, in accordance with the concentration dependent red-shift observed in solutions. Natural-bond-orbital analysis shows that the disilver-ammonium-aquo "sandwich" cation in 3 is stabilized by interaction between the pi lone pair orbital on the oxygen atom of the water molecule and Ag(I)--N sigma antibonding molecular orbital.