An N-ligated trinuclear copper(I) cation structurally reminiscent of the active site of ascorbate oxidase

Abstract

The trinuclear copper(I) cation, [Cu(µ-ppdBu)₂{Cu(cnge)(MeCN)}₂](BF₄)₃·MeCN (ppdBu = 3,6-bis[N-{3-(tert-butyl)pyrazolyl}] pyridazine, cnge = 2-cyanoguanidine), which comprises three copper atoms held together in an isosceles triangle (Cu ⋯ Cu = 3.62, 3.63 and 5.01 Å) by two approximately perpendicular (dihedral angle 86.9°) planar ppdBu bridging ligands, is synthesised by addition of a dichloromethane solution of ppdBu to an acetonitrile solution of [Cu(MeCN)₄](BF₄) containing cnge.