Synthesis and reactivity of copper(I) complexes containing a bis(imidazolin-2-imine) pincer ligand

The new pincer ligand 2,6-bis[(1,3-di-tert-butylimidazolin-2-imino)methyl]pyridine (TL(tBu)) has been prepared in high yield from 2,6-bis(hydroxymethyl)pyridine (1) and 1,3-di-tert-butylimidazolin-2-imine (3). Reaction of TL(tBu) with [Cu(MeCN)4]PF6 affords the highly reactive copper(I) complex [(TL(tBu))Cu]PF6, [5]PF6, which forms the stable copper(I) isocyanide complexes [6a]PF6 (nu(CN) = 2179 cm(-1)) and [6b]PF6 (nu(CN) = 2140 cm(-1)) upon addition of tert-butyl or 2,6-dimethylphenyl isocyanide, respectively. For the cations 6a and 6b, DFT calculations reveal ground-state electronic structures of the type [(TL(tBu)-kappaN(1):kappaN(2))Cu(CNR)] with tricoordinate geometries around the copper atoms. Exposure of [5]PF6 to the air readily leads to trapping of atmospheric CO2 to form the square-planar complex [(TL(tBu))Cu(HCO3-kappaO)]PF6, [7]PF6, with the bicarbonate ligand adopting a rarely observed monodentate coordination mode. In chlorinated solvents such as dichloromethane or chloroform, [5]PF(6) rapidly abstracts chloride by reductive dechlorination of the solvent to yield [(TL(tBu))CuCl]PF6, [8]PF6 quantitatively. Reaction of TL(tBu) with copper(I) bromide or chloride affords complexes 9a and 9b, respectively, for which X-ray diffraction analysis, low-temperature NMR experiments and DFT calculations reveal the presence of a kappa(2)-coordinated ligand of the type [(TL(tBu)-kappaN(1):kappaN(2))CuX]. In solution, complex 9b undergoes slow disproportionation forming the mixed-valence copper(II)/copper(I) system [(TL(tBu))CuCl][CuCl2], [8]CuCl2 with a linear dichlorocuprate(I) counterion.