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Published on: December 29, 2016
Trialkylphosphine-stabilized copper(I) phenylchalcogenolate complexes--crystal structures and copper-chalcogenolate
Oliver Kluge1, Katharina Grummt, Ralf Biedermann
1Institut für Anorganische Chemie, Universität Leipzig, Johannisallee 29, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
Trialkylphosphine ligands control the nuclearity and structure of copper(I) phenylchalcogenolate complexes. Ligand size and quantity influence complex formation, revealing insights into bonding and molecular flexibility.
Area of Science:
- Coordination Chemistry
- Organometallic Chemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Copper(I) complexes with chalcogenolate ligands are of interest due to their diverse structures and potential applications.
- The role of auxiliary ligands, such as phosphines, in dictating the aggregation state and structural motifs of metal complexes is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and structurally characterize a series of trialkylphosphine-stabilized copper(I) phenylchalcogenolate complexes.
- To investigate the influence of phosphine ligand size and stoichiometry on the nuclearity and molecular architecture of these complexes.
- To explore unusual bonding interactions and structural features, such as long Cu-E bonds and bridging chalcogenolates.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of novel copper(I) phenylchalcogenolate complexes stabilized by various trialkylphosphines (R = Me, Et, (i)Pr, (t)Bu; E = S, Se, Te).
- Structural characterization using X-ray diffraction analysis.
- Computational analysis using density functional theory (DFT) to understand bonding phenomena and structural influences.
Main Results:
- Formation of complexes with varying nuclearities (mono-, di-, tri-, tetra-, hexa-, hepta-, or decanuclear) was observed.
- Structural diversity included long Cu-E bonds, secondary Cu-E interactions, μ(4)-bridging, and planar bridging chalcogenolates.
- A correlation between rigid Cu-E-C angles and the inclination of E-C bonds to Cu-E-Cu planes was identified, influencing molecular flexibility.
Conclusions:
- The size and amount of trialkylphosphine ligands are key factors determining the nuclearity and structural complexity of copper(I) phenylchalcogenolate complexes.
- Unusual bonding modes and structural features provide insights into the coordination chemistry of copper and phenylchalcogenolate ligands.
- Computational studies support the experimental observations, highlighting the interplay between ligand properties and complex architecture.
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