X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of copper(II), copper(I), and mixed valence systems

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy using copper(II), copper(I) and the mixed valence Cu(II)/Cu(I) compounds was employed as a means of studying electron transfer reactions in copper proteins. The X-ray photoelectron spectra of copper(II) compounds display characteristic satellites of both variable size and resolution. Some of these satellites could be assigned to specific ligand interactions. Unlike electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic measurements of copper(I) compounds allowed the unequivocal assignment of this oxidation state. No satellites at all could be detected in the Cu(I) spectra. Furthermore, established mixed valence Cu(II)/Cu(I) complexes including Cu2SO3-CuSO3-2H2O and Cu4Cl5 (ethylenediamine)2 proved essentially a mixture of distinct portions of Cu(I) and Cu(II). This indicates that both oxidation states of copper survive in such complexes. In contrast, all Cu X-ray photoelectron signals of the more tentatively described mixed valence complexes Na2Cu3S3 and the mineral covellite, CuI4CuII2(S2)2S2, could be attributed exclusively to Cu(I). In view of the known binding of copper with sulfur in many copper proteins, it was of utmost importance to study the copper-sulfur interactions. We have demonstrated the absence of Cu(II) in CuS. This indicates strong metal-induced polarization of sulfur resulting in electron transfer to copper to yield Cu(I).