CuI Complexes with N,N′,S,S′ Scorpionate Ligands: Evidence for Dimer−Monomer Equilibria

Synthesis, Characterization, and Spectroscopic Studies of 2,6-Dimethylpyridyl-Linked Cu(I)-CNC Complexes: The Electronic Influence of Aryl Wingtips on Copper Centers

Six new Cu(I) complexes containing pincer ligands of the type 2,6-bis(3-alkyl/arylimidazol-2-ylidene) methylpyridine I(R/R'Ar) ĈN̂C, where R = trifluoroethyl (TFE) and R' = 4-CF3, 4-NO2, 4-CN, 4-H, and 4-CH3, have been synthesized. These complexes, namely, [Cu(I(TFE)ĈN̂C)]PF6, 1-TFE; [Cu(ICF3Ar ĈN̂C]PF6, 2-CF3; [Cu(INO2Ar ĈN̂C)]PF6, 3-NO2; [Cu(ICNAr ĈN̂C]PF6, 4-CN; [Cu(IHAr ĈN̂C)]2(PF6)2, 5-H; and [Cu(ICH3Ar ĈN̂C)]2(PF6)2, 6-CH3, were fully characterized by 1H, 13C, and HMBC NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, electrochemical studies, and single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The crystallographic data revealed different structures and copper nuclearities for the complexes bearing aryl wingtips with electron-withdrawing (2-CF3, 3-NO2, and 4-CN) and electron-donating (5-H and 6-CH3) substituents. The solution-phase conductivity measurements in acetonitrile revealed a mix-electrolyte behavior for these complexes, supporting the presence of both mono- and binuclear forms of each complex. The fast monomer-dimer equilibrium of the Cu-CNC complexes at room temperature is reflected in their simple 1H NMR spectra in acetonitrile. However, both mono- and binuclear forms were identifiable in 1H diffusion-ordered spectroscopy (DOSY) at low temperatures. The dynamic behavior of these complexes in solution was further examined by variable-temperature 1H NMR (VT 1H NMR) experiments, and the relevant thermodynamic parameters were determined. The process was also probed by one-dimensional rotating-frame Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy (1D ROESY) experiments to elucidate the coexisting species in solution. The 2,6-dimethylpyridyl-linked Cu-CNC complexes also presented a quasi-reversible Cu(II)/Cu(I) couple in cyclic voltammetry studies, wherein a clear influence of the aryl wingtips on the E1/2 values was observed. Furthermore, the percent buried volumes (% Vbur) of the complexes were calculated, showing a similar steric hindrance around copper in all complexes. These findings support the importance of electronic effects, induced by the aryl wingtips, on the preferred coordination geometry, copper nuclearity, and redox properties of the Cu-CNC complexes.

Copper(I) Complexes of N-(2-{[(2E)-2-(4-Nitrobenzylidenyl)Hydrazinyl]Carbonyl}Phenyl)Benzamide and Triphenylphosphine: Synthesis, Characterization and Luminescence Properties

Copper(I) complexes of the formula [Cu(L)(PPh₃)₂]X (1-4) (X = Cl(1), ClO₄(2), BF₄(3) and PF₆(4)) [where L = N-(2-{[(2E)-2-(4-nitrobenzylidenyl)hydrazinyl]carbonyl}phenyl)benzamide; PPh₃ = triphenylphosphine] have been prepared by the condensation of N-[2-(hydrazinocarbonyl)phenyl]benzamide with 4-nitrobenzaldehyde followed by the reaction with CuCl, [Cu(MeCN)₄]ClO₄, [Cu(MeCN)₄]BF₄ and [Cu(MeCN)₄]PF₆ in presence of triphenylphosphine as a coligand. Complexes 1-4 were then characterized by elemental analyses, FTIR, UV-visible and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Mononuclear copper(I) complexes 1-4 were formed with L in its keto form by involvement of azomethine nitrogen and the carbonyl oxygen along with two PPh₃ groups. A single crystal X-ray diffraction study of the representative complex [(Cu(L)(PPh₃)₂]CIO₄ (2) reveals a distorted tetrahedral geometry around Cu(I). Crystal data of (2): space group = C2/c, a = 42.8596 (9) Å, b = 14.6207 (3) Å, c = 36.4643 (7) Å, V = 20,653.7 (7) ų, Z = 16. Complexes 1-4 exhibit quasireversible redox behaviour corresponding to a Cu(I)/Cu(II) couple. All complexes show blue-green emission as a result of fluorescence from an intra-ligand charge transition (ILCT), ligand to ligand charge transfer transition (LLCT) or mixture of both. Significant increase in size of the counter anion shows marked effect on quantum efficiency and lifetime of the complexes in solution.

The effect of steric changes on the isoselectivity of dinuclear indium catalysts for lactide polymerization

Functionalized diaminophenolates as ligands for dinuclear indium catalysts were investigated in the ring-opening polymerization of lactide. An increase in the steric bulk of the ligand phenolates decreases the selectivity of the catalysts due to catalyst dissociation during polymerization.

Tuning of the copper-thioether bond in tetradentate N₃S(thioether) ligands; O-O bond reductive cleavage via a [Cu(II)₂(μ-1,2-peroxo)]²⁺/[Cu(III)₂(μ-oxo)₂]²⁺ equilibrium

Current interest in copper/dioxygen reactivity includes the influence of thioether sulfur ligation, as it concerns the formation, structures, and properties of derived copper-dioxygen complexes. Here, we report on the chemistry of {L-Cu(I)}2-(O2) species L = (DMM)ESE, (DMM)ESP, and (DMM)ESDP, which are N3S(thioether)-based ligands varied in the nature of a substituent on the S atom, along with a related N3O(ether) (EOE) ligand. Cu(I) and Cu(II) complexes have been synthesized and crystallographically characterized. Copper(I) complexes are dimeric in the solid state, [{L-Cu(I)}2](B(C6F5)4)2, however are shown by diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy to be mononuclear in solution. Copper(II) complexes with a general formulation [L-Cu(II)(X)](n+) {X = ClO4(-), n = 1, or X = H2O, n = 2} exhibit distorted square pyramidal coordination geometries and progressively weaker axial thioether ligation across the series. Oxygenation (-130 °C) of {((DMM)ESE)Cu(I)}(+) results in the formation of a trans-μ-1,2-peroxodicopper(II) species [{((DMM)ESE)Cu(II)}2(μ-1,2-O2(2-))](2+) (1(P)). Weakening the Cu-S bond via a change to the thioether donor found in (DMM)ESP leads to the initial formation of [{((DMM)ESP)Cu(II)}2(μ-1,2-O2(2-))](2+) (2(P)) that subsequently isomerizes to a bis-μ-oxodicopper(III) complex, [{((DMM)ESP)Cu(III)}2(μ-O(2-))2](2+) (2(O)), with 2(P) and 2(O) in equilibrium (K(eq) = [2(O)]/[2(P)] = 2.6 at -130 °C). Formulations for these Cu/O2 adducts were confirmed by resonance Raman (rR) spectroscopy. This solution mixture is sensitive to the addition of methylsulfonate, which shifts the equilibrium toward the bis-μ-oxo isomer. Further weakening of the Cu-S bond in (DMM)ESDP or substitution with an ether donor in (DMM)EOE leads to only a bis-μ-oxo species (3(O) and 4(O), respectively). Reactivity studies indicate that the bis-μ-oxodicopper(III) species (2(O), 3(O)) and not the trans-peroxo isomers (1(P) and 2(P)) are responsible for the observed ligand sulfoxidation. Our findings concerning the existence of the 2(P)/2(O) equilibrium contrast with previously established ligand-Cu(I)/O2 reactivity and possible implications are discussed.