Synthesis, structures and reactivity of N-donor-functionalised Cu(I) aryloxides

A Dicopper Nitrenoid by Oxidation of a CuICuI Core: Synthesis, Electronic Structure, and Reactivity

A dicopper nitrenoid complex was prepared by formal oxidative addition of the nitrenoid fragment to a dicopper(I) center by reaction with the iminoiodinane PhINTs (Ts = tosylate). This nitrenoid complex, (DPFN)Cu₂(μ-NTs)[NTf₂]₂ (DPFN = 2,7-bis(fluorodi(2-pyridyl)methyl)-1,8-naphthyridine), is a powerful H atom abstractor that reacts with a range of strong C-H bonds to form a mixed-valence Cu(I)/Cu(II) μ-NHTs amido complex in the first example of a clean H atom transfer to a dicopper nitrenoid core. In line with this reactivity, DFT calculations reveal that the nitrenoid is best described as an iminyl (NR radical anion) complex. The nitrenoid was trapped by the addition of water to form a mixed-donor hydroxo/amido dicopper(II) complex, which was independently obtained by reaction of a Cu₂(μ-OH)₂ complex with an amine through a protonolysis pathway. This mixed-donor complex is an analogue for the proposed intermediate in copper-catalyzed Chan-Evans-Lam coupling, which proceeds via C-X (X = N or O) bond formation. Treatment of the dicopper(II) mixed donor complex with MgPh₂(THF)₂ resulted in generation of a mixture that includes both phenol and a previously reported dicopper(I) bridging phenyl complex, illustrating that both reduction of dicopper(II) to dicopper(I) and concomitant C-X bond formation are feasible.

Phosphorescence enhancement by close metal–metal interaction in T1 excited state in a dinuclear copper(i) complex

Combined experimental and theoretical study on a phosphorescent copper(i) complex, showing high electron density between metals in the triplet excited state.

Di- and Tetranuclear Copper(I) Complexes Containing Phenylaminobis(phosphonite), PhN{P(OC6H4OMe-o)2}2, and Their Reactivity toward Bipyridyl Ligands

The aminobis(phosphonite) PhN(P(OC6H4OMe-o)2)2 (PNP; 1) reacts with 2 equiv of CuI to give a binuclear complex, Cu2(mu2-I)2(NCCH3)2(mu-PNP) (2), whereas similar reactions with CuCl and CuBr furnish tetranuclear "ladder"-type complexes, Cu4(mu2-X)2(mu3-X)2(mu-PNP)2 (3, X = Cl; 4, X = Br), in excellent yield. The complex 2 when heated under vacuum turns into the tetranuclear complex 5 in a reversible fashion. Similarly, the complexes 3 and 4 on dissolution in CH3CN dissociate reversibly into the corresponding binuclear complexes from which the tetrameric complexes can be readily regenerated. Treatment of 2 with excess of pyridine produces the heterosubstituted derivative, Cu2(mu2-I)2(C5H5N)2(mu-PNP) (6). The interaction of 2 with 2,2'-bipyridine in 1:1 and 1:2 ratios produces the mono- and disubstituted derivatives, Cu2(mu2-I)I(C10H8N2)(mu-PNP) (7) and [Cu2(mu2-I)(C10H8N2)2(mu-PNP)]I (8), respectively. The chloro and bromo analogues of 7 are prepared by treating the tetranuclear derivatives 3 and 4 with 2,2'-bipyridine. Reaction of 2 with 4,4'-bipyridine in the presence of AgOTf gives the cationic complex [Cu4(NCCH3)4(C10H8N2)2(mu-PNP)2](OTf)4 (9), whereas the complex [Cu2(NCCH3)2(mu-PNP)2](OTf)2 (10) was obtained from the reaction of 2 with 1 equiv of 1 and AgOTf. The reactions of 3 and 4 with 2 equiv of 4,4'-bipyridine in acetonitrile afford one-dimensional copper(I) coordination polymers [Cu2(mu2-X)2(mu-PNP)(C10H8N2)]n (13, X = Cl; 14, X = Br). The molecular structures of 2-4, 6-8, 12, and 14 are confirmed by X-ray crystallography.