Oxidation of bis(phenanthroline)copper(I) complexes by molecular oxygen in nitromethane solution

Abstract

The oxidation product of the reaction of [Cu(Rphen)₂]ClO₄ with oxygen in nitromethane solution (where Rphen = 1,10-phenanthroline, 5-methyl-1,10-phenanthroline, 5,6-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, 5-chloro-1,10-phenanthroline) has been isolated and identified. These copper(II) complexes have a nitromethanide anion incorporated in the first co-ordination sphere. The electronic spectrum of [Cu(Rphen)₂(CH₂NO₂)]ClO₄ is consistent with a cis-distorted octahedral configuration.