Bridging phenoxo-ligands in dicopper(I) complexes: synthesis and structure of tetrakis(isocyanide)-bis(µ-phenoxo)-dicopper(I) complexes

Abstract

The reaction of CuCl with PhONa followed by the addition of RNC (R = cyclohexyl, p-tolyl) gave as thermally stable crystalline solids [(RNC)₄Cu₂(OPh)₂] containing a dicopper(I) unit doubly bridged by two phenoxo-groups [R =p-tolyl; Cu … Cu, 3.223(3)Å], with isocyanide ligands completing the tetraco-ordination around each copper [ν(C–N): R =p-tolyl, 2120 and 2145 cm^–1; R = cyclohexyl, 2130 and 2160 cm^–1].