Synthesis and Characterization of N,N‐Di‐substituted Acylthiourea Copper(II) Complexes

A series of six N,N‐di‐substituted acylthiourea ArC(O)NHC(S)NRR′ ligands (denoted as HLⁿ) Ar = 1‐Naph: NRR′ = NPh₂, HL¹ ( 1 ); N(iPr)Ph, HL² ( 2 ). Ar = Mes: NRR′ = NPh₂, HL⁴ ( 3 ); N(iPr)Ph, HL⁵ ( 4 ); NEt₂, HL⁶ ( 5 ). Ar = Ph: NRR′ = N(iPr)Ph, HL⁸ ( 6 )] were synthesized and characterized. These ligands were deprotonated to form Cu^II complexes through metathesis or combined redox reaction with copper halides. The structures of the complexes were investigated with single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The reaction of the 1‐naphthalene derivative HL¹ ( 1 ) with CuBr in the presence of sodium acetate produced cis‐CuL¹₂ ( 7 ), where the deprotonated ligand is bound to the Cu^II atom in a bidentate‐(O, S) coordination mode. Similarly treatment of HL² ( 2 ) with NaOAc and CuCl resulted in the formation of the cis‐arranged product cis‐CuL²₂ ( 8 )]. The reaction of mesityl derivative HL⁴ ( 3 ) and CuBr with and without the addition of NaOAc gave the cis‐CuL⁴₂ ( 9 ) and cis‐(HL⁴)₂CuBr ( 10 ), respectively. In contrast, reaction of HL⁵ ( 4 ) and CuI in the presence of NaOAc resulted in trans‐CuL⁵₂ ( 11 ). Alternatively trans‐CuL⁶₂ ( 12 ) was obtained by the reaction of diethyl‐substituted HL⁶ ( 5 ) with CuCl₂ in the absence of a base.