Observation of Non‐FCC Copper in Alkynyl‐Protected Cu53 Nanoclusters

The only feasible access to non‐face‐centered cubic (FCC) copper was by physical vapor deposition under high vacuum. Now, non‐FCC copper is observed in a series of alkynyl‐protected Cu₅₃ nanoclusters (NCs) obtained from solution‐phase synthesis. Determined by single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography, the structures of Cu₅₃(C≡CPhPh)₉(dppp)₆Cl₃(NO₃)₉ and its two derivatives reveal an ABABC stacking sequence involving 41 Cu atoms. It can be regarded as a mixed FCC and HCP structure, which gives strong evidence that Cu can be arranged in non‐FCC lattice at ambient conditions when proper ligands are provided. Characterization methods including X‐ray absorption fine structure, XPS, ESI‐MS, UV/Vis, Auger spectroscopy, and DFT calculations were carried out. Cu^II was shown to successively coordinate with introduced ligands and changed to Cu^I after bonding with phosphine. The following addition of NaBH₄ and the aging step further reduced it to the Cu₅₃ NC.     

Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Six Pentanuclear and Tetranuclear Mo/W‐Cu‐S Clusters with Bis(diphenylphosphanyl) Methane

Six heterothiometalic clusters, namely, [WS₄Cu₄(dppm)₄](ClO₄)₂ · 2DMF · MeCN ( 1 ), [MoS₄Cu₄(dppm)₄](NO₃)₂ · MeCN ( 2 ) [MoS₄Cu₃(dppm)₃](ClO₄) · 4H₂O ( 3 ), [WS₄Cu₃(dppm)₃](NO₃) · 4H₂O ( 4 ), [WS₄Cu₃(dppm)₃]SCN · CH₂Cl₂ ( 5 ), and [WS₄Cu₃(dppm)₃]I · CH₂Cl₂ ( 6 ) [dppm = bis (diphenylphosphanyl)methane] were synthesized. Compounds 1 – 4 were obtained by the reactions of (NH₄)₂MS₄ (M = Mo, W) with [Cu₂(μ₂‐dppm)₂(MeCN)₂(ClO₄)₂] {or [Cu(dppm)(NO₃)]₂} in the presence of 1,10‐phen in mixed solvent (CH₃CN/CH₂Cl₂/DMF for 1 and 2 , CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH/DMF for 3 and 4 . Compounds 5 and 6 were obtained by one‐pot reactions of (NH₄)₂WS₄ with dppm and CuSCN (or CuI) in CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH. These clusters were characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction as well as IR, ¹H NMR, and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. Structure analysis showed that compounds 1 and 2 are “saddle‐shaped” pentanuclear cationic clusters, whereas compounds 3 – 6 are “flywheel‐shaped” tetranuclear cationic clusters. In 1 and 2 , the MS₄^2– unit (M = W, Mo) is coordinated by four copper atoms, which are further bridged by four dppm molecules. In compounds 3 – 6 , the MS₄^2– unit is coordinated by three copper atoms and each copper atom is bridged by three dppm ligands.     

Dichloro­(O‐ethyl 3‐methyl­pyridine‐2‐carboximidic acid‐κ2N,N′)copper(II)

In the title compound, [CuCl₂(C₉H₁₂N₂O)], the Cu^II atom is coordinated by two Cl⁻ anions and two N atoms of one O‐ethyl 3‐methyl­pyridine‐2‐carboximidic acid mol­ecule in a slightly distorted square‐planar geometry, with Cu—N distances of 2.0483 (17) and 1.9404 (18) Å, and Cu—Cl distances of 2.2805 (10) and 2.2275 (14) Å. In addition, each Cu^II atom is connected by one Cl⁻ anion and the Cu^II atom from a neighbouring mol­ecule, with Cu⋯Cl and Cu⋯Cu distances of 2.9098 (13) and 3.4022 (12) Å, respectively, and, therefore, a centrosymmetric dimer is formed. Adjacent mol­ecular dimers are connected by π–π stacking inter­actions between pyridine rings to form a zigzag mol­ecular chain. The mol­ecular chains are also enforced by N—H⋯Cl and C—H⋯Cl inter­actions.     

Reactivity of 2,2′‐Bis(2N‐(1,1′,3,3′‐tetramethyl‐guanidino))diphenylene‐amine with CuI and [Cu(MeCN)4][PF6]: Benzimidazole Formation vs. Cu Oxidation

The reaction of 2,2′‐Bis(2N‐(1,1′,3,3′‐tetramethyl‐guanidino))diphenylene‐amine (TMG₂PA) ( 1 ) with CuI in MeCN results in the formation of [Cu^II(TMG₂PA^amid)I] ( 2 ) indicatingthat Cu^I is the target of an oxidative attack of the N‐H proton of the ligand which itself is converted to molecular hydrogen. In contrast, if [Cu(MeCN)₄][PF₆] is used as the Cu^I source, [Cu^I₂(TMGbenz)₂][PF₆]₂ ( 3 ) is obtained instead. The use of the non‐coordinating counterion [PF₆]^– apparently prevents Cu^I from oxidation but induces itself a cyclisation reaction within the ligand which results in the formation of a benzimidazole‐guanidine ligand.     

A Nano‐sized Supramolecule Beyond the Fullerene Topology

The reaction of [Cp^BnFe(η⁵‐P₅)] ( 1 ) (Cp^Bn=η⁵‐C₅(CH₂Ph)₅) with CuI selectively yields a novel spherical supramolecule (CH₂Cl₂)_3.4@[(Cp^BnFeP₅)₁₂{CuI}₅₄(MeCN)_1.46] ( 2 ) showing a linkage of the scaffold atoms which is beyond the Fullerene topology. Its extended CuI framework reveals an outer diameter of 3.7 nm—a size that has not been reached before using five‐fold symmetric building blocks. Furthermore, 2 shows a remarkable solubility in CH₂Cl₂, and NMR spectroscopy reveals that the scaffold of the supramolecule remains intact in solution. In addition, a novel 2D polymer [{Cp^BnFe(η⁵‐P₅)}₂{Cu₆(μ‐I)₂(μ₃‐I)₄}]_n ( 3 ) with an uncommon structural motif was isolated. Its formation can be avoided by using a large excess of CuI in the reaction with 1 .     

A twofold interwoven two‐dimensional→two‐dimensional (2‐D→2‐D) cluster–organic network based on the [Cu2I2] cluster and the 4,4′‐(diazenediyl)dipyridine ligand: poly[[μ2‐4,4′‐(diazenediyl)dipyridine]‐μ2‐iodido‐copper(I)]

In the polymeric title compound, [CuI(C₁₀H₈N₄)]_n, the Cu^I atom is in a four‐coordinated tetrahedral geometry, formed by two I atoms and two pyridine N atoms from two different 4,4′‐(diazenediyl)dipyridine (4,4′‐azpy) ligands. Two μ₂‐I atoms link two Cu^I atoms to form a planar rhomboid [Cu₂I₂] cluster located on an inversion centre, where the distance between two Cu^I atoms is 2.7781 (15) Å and the Cu—I bond lengths are 2.6290 (13) and 2.7495 (15) Å. The bridging 4,4′‐azpy ligands connect the [Cu₂I₂] clusters into a two‐dimensional (2‐D) double‐layered grid‐like network [parallel to the (10) plane], with a (4,4)‐connected topology. Two 2‐D grid‐like networks interweave each other by long 4,4′‐azpy bridging ligands to form a dense 2‐D double‐layered network. To the best of our knowledge, this interwoven 2‐D→2‐D network is observed for the first time in [Cu₂I₂]–organic compounds.     

Synthesis of Bimetallic Copper‐Rich Nanoclusters Encapsulating a Linear Palladium Dihydride Unit

The structurally precise Cu‐rich hydride nanoclusters [PdCu₁₄H₂(dtc/dtp)₆(C≡CPh)₆] (dtc: di‐butyldithiocarbamate ( 1 ); dtp: di‐isopropyl dithiophosphate ( 2 )) were synthesized from the reaction of polyhydrido copper clusters [Cu₂₈H₁₅(S₂CNⁿBu₂)₁₂]⁺ or [Cu₂₀H₁₁{S₂P(OⁱPr)₂}₉] with phenyl acetylene in the presence of Pd(PPh₃)₂Cl₂. Their structures and compositions were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and the results supported by ESI‐mass spectrometry. Hydride positions in 1 were confirmed by single‐crystal neutron diffraction. Each hydride is connected to one Pd⁰ and four Cu^I atoms in slightly distorted trigonalbipyramidal geometry. The anatomies of clusters 1 and 2 are very similar and DFT calculations allow rationalizing the interactions between the encapsulated [PdH₂]^2? unit and its Cu₁₄ bicapped icosahedral cage. As a result, Pd has the highest coordination number (14) so far recorded.     

Bis{[μ‐N,N′‐bis­(salicyl­idene)‐1,4‐butane­di­amine‐N,N′,O,O′‐copper(II)]‐μ‐chloro‐chloromercury(II)}

A new tetranuclear Cu^II–Hg^II–Hg^II–Cu^II complex, [Cu₂Hg₂Cl₄(C₁₈H₁₈N₂O₂)₂], has been prepared by means of a copper complex found in the literature. The molecular structure of this complex was determined by X‐ray diffraction and the Cu–Hg–Hg–Cu chain was seen to be non‐linear. The change in magnetic susceptibility with temperature was recorded for this complex and observed to abide by the Curie–Weiss law. The coordination around the Hg^II ions is square pyramidal. The Cu?Hg bridging distance is 3.5269 (7) Å.     

Alkali Cation Ligating Chains and Sheets of the Macrocycle 1, 7‐Dithia‐18‐Crown‐6 with Bridging Iodo‐ and Thiocyanatocuprate(I) Units

Treatment of an acetonitrile solution of CuI with 1, 7‐dithia‐18‐crown‐6 (1, 7‐DT18C6) at 100°C affords the coordination polymer ¹[(CuI)₂(1, 7‐DT18C6)₂] ( 1 ) in which 1, 7‐DT18C6 ligands bridge (CuI)₂ rings into double chains. 1D polymers of the type ¹[M{(Cu₃I₄)(1, 7‐DT18C6)}] (M = K, 2 ; M = Cs, 3 ) can be isolated under similar conditions in the presence of respectively KI and CsI. Both contain bridging heptacyclic [Cu₆I₈]^2— units but crystallise in different space groups, namely P1 and C2/m. The cesium cation of 3 is markedly displaced from the best plane through the thiacrown ether donor atoms. Reaction of 1, 7‐DT18C6 with CuSCN in the presence of NaSCN yields ²[{Na(CH₃CN)₂} {(CuSCN)₂(1, 7‐DT18C6)}][Cu(SCN)₂] ( 4 ), in which ¹[(CuSCN)₂] double chains are linked through macrocycles into sheets. Infinite ¹[{Cu(SCN)₂}^—] chains compensate the charge of the Na⁺ cations. Complex 1 can imbibe 0.90 mol CsNO₃ per mol of 1, 7‐DT18C6 pairs.     

Copper(II) Halide Complexes with 1‐tert‐Butyl‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazole and 1‐tert‐Butyl‐1H‐tetrazole

1‐tert‐Butyl‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazole (tbtr) was found to react with copper(II) chloride or bromide to give the complexes [Cu(tbtr)₂X₂]_n and [Cu(tbtr)₄X₂] (X = Cl, Br). 1‐tert‐Butyl‐1H‐tetrazole (tbtt) reacts with copper(II) bromide resulting in the formation of the complex [Cu₃(tbtt)₆Br₆]. The obtained crystalline complexes as well as free ligand tbtr were characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, thermal and X‐ray analyses. For free ligand tbtr, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectra were also recorded. In all the complexes, tbtr and tbtt act as monodentate ligands coordinated by Cu^II cations via the heteroring N⁴ atoms. The triazole complexes [Cu(tbtr)₂Cl₂]_n and [Cu(tbtr)₂Br₂]_n are isotypic, being 1D coordination polymers, formed at the expense of single halide bridges between neighboring copper(II) cations. The isotypic complexes [Cu(tbtr)₄Cl₂] and [Cu(tbtr)₄Br₂] reveal mononuclear centrosymmetric structure, with octahedral coordination of Cu^II cations. The tetrazole compound [Cu₃(tbtt)₆Br₆] is a linear trinuclear complex, in which neighboring copper(II) cations are linked by single bromide bridges.     

Bis(2,2′‐bipyridine)iodo­(oxo)tri‐μ3‐sulfido‐tricopper(I)tungsten(VI)

The title nest‐shaped cluster, [Cu₃WIOS₃(C₁₀H₈N₂)₂], has been synthesized by the reaction of (NH₄)₂[WOS₃], CuI and 2,2′‐bipyridine (bipy) in dimethyl­formamide under a purified nitro­gen atmosphere. The cluster has a neutral skeleton containing the bipy ligands, and the central W atom is tetra­hedrally coordinated by three S atoms and one O atom. The three Cu atoms are divided into two different kinds. Two Cu atoms adopt distorted tetra­hedral geometry, with each Cu atom coordinated by two S atoms and the two N atoms of a bipy ligand. The other Cu atom adopts a trigonal mode surrounded by two S atoms and one I atom.     

Bis(2,2‐bi­pyridine‐N,N′)tetra‐μ‐chloro‐tetracopper(I)

A novel centrosymmetric chair‐like dimer, bis(2,2′‐bi­pyridine)‐1κ²N,N′;3κ²N,N′‐tetra‐μ‐chloro‐1:2κ²Cl;­2:3κ²Cl;­3:4κ²Cl;1:4κ²Cl‐tetra­copper(I), [Cu₄Cl₄­(C₁₀­H₈­N₂)₂], has been solvothermally synthesized and structurally characterized. The complex self‐assembles into a three‐dimensional network via C—H?Cl hydrogen bonds, π–π stacking and weak Cu?Cl electrostatic interactions.     

The diselanylbis(1,3‐dimethyl‐1H‐imidazol‐3‐ium) dication stabilized by the polymeric catena‐pentachloridotricuprate(I) anion

In the title compound, catena‐poly[diselanylbis(1,3‐dimethyl‐1H‐imidazol‐3‐ium) [μ₃‐chlorido‐tetra‐μ₂‐chlorido‐tricuprate(I)]], {(C₁₀H₁₆N₄Se₂)[Cu₃Cl₅]}_n, the diselenide dication is stabilized by catena‐[Cu₃Cl₅]²⁻ anions which associate through strong Cu—Cl bonds [average length = 2.3525 (13) Å] to form polymeric chains. The polymeric [Cu₃Cl₅]²⁻ anion contains crystallographically imposed twofold rotation symmetry, with distorted trigonal‐planar and tetrahedral geometries around the two symmetry‐independent Cu atoms. Likewise, the Se—Se bond of the cation is centered on a twofold rotation axis.     

Bis(μ‐phenyl 2‐pyridyl ketone N4,N4‐butane‐1,4‐diylthiosemicarbazonato)bis[chlorocopper(II)]

The title compound, [Cu₂(C₁₇H₁₇N₄S)₂Cl₂], exhibits a dimeric structure related by a centre of symmetry. The monomers are linked to each other by the longest Cu—S apical distance observed to date among Cu^II square‐pyramidal complexes of N⁴‐substituted thio­semicarbazones. Each Cu^II atom deviates from the coordination square plane, which contains the pyrid­yl and imine N atoms, the thiol­ate S atom and the Cl⁻ anion, towards the S atom of the adjacent monomer. The dimers pack in a zigzag manner through the crystal.     

Metal(II) Ion Complexes with 5‐(Pyrazin‐2‐yl)‐2,4‐dihydro‐3H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐thione; Synthesis,Structural Characterization,Acid‐base,and Complexing Properties in Solution

The study reports the synthesis of complexes Co(HL)Cl₂ ( 1 ), Ni(HL)Cl₂ ( 2 ), Cu(HL)Cl₂ ( 3 ), and Zn(HL)₃Cl₂ ( 4 ) with the title ligand, 5‐(pyrazin‐2‐yl)‐1,2,4‐triazole‐5‐thione (HL), and their characterization by elemental analyses, ESI‐MS (m/z), FT‐IR and UV/Vis spectroscopy, as well as EPR in the case of the Cu^II complex. The comparative analysis of IR spectra of the metal ion complexes with HL and HL alone indicated that the metal ions in 1 , 2 , and 3 are chelated by two nitrogen atoms, N(4) of pyrazine and N(5) of triazole in the thiol tautomeric form, whereas the Zn^II ion in 4 is coordinated by the non‐protonated N(2) nitrogen atom of triazole in the thione form. pH potentiometry and UV/Vis spectroscopy were used to examine Co^II, Ni^II, and Zn^II complexes in 10/90 (v/v) DMSO/water solution, whereas the Cu^II complex was examined in 40/60 (v/v) DMSO/water solution. Monodeprotonation of the thione triazole in solution enables the formation of the L:M = 1:1 species with Co^II, Ni^II and Zn^II, the 2:1 species with Co^II and Zn^II, and the 3:1 species with Zn^II. A distorted tetrahedral arrangement of the Cu^II complex was suggested on the basis of EPR and Vis/NIR spectra.     

Visible‐Light‐Accelerated Copper(II)‐Catalyzed Regio‐ and Chemoselective Oxo‐Azidation of Vinyl Arenes

The visible‐light‐accelerated oxo‐azidation of vinyl arenes with trimethylsilylazide and molecular oxygen as stoichiometric oxidant was achieved. In contrast to photocatalysts based on iridium, ruthenium, or organic dyes, [Cu(dap)₂]Cl or [Cu(dap)Cl₂] were found to be unique for this transformation, which is attributed to their ability to interact with the substrates through ligand exchange and rebound mechanisms. Cu^II is proposed as the catalytically active species, which upon coordinating azide will undergo light‐accelerated homolysis to form Cu^I and azide radicals. This activation principle (Cu^II‐X→Cu^I+X^.) opens up new avenues for copper‐based photocatalysis.     

Observation of Non-FCC Copper in Alkynyl-Protected Cu53 Nanoclusters

The only feasible access to non-face-centered cubic (FCC) copper was by physical vapor deposition under high vacuum. Now, non-FCC copper is observed in a series of alkynyl-protected Cu₅₃ nanoclusters (NCs) obtained from solution-phase synthesis. Determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography, the structures of Cu₅₃(C≡CPhPh)₉(dppp)₆Cl₃(NO₃)₉ and its two derivatives reveal an ABABC stacking sequence involving 41 Cu atoms. It can be regarded as a mixed FCC and HCP structure, which gives strong evidence that Cu can be arranged in non-FCC lattice at ambient conditions when proper ligands are provided. Characterization methods including X-ray absorption fine structure, XPS, ESI-MS, UV/Vis, Auger spectroscopy, and DFT calculations were carried out. Cu^II was shown to successively coordinate with introduced ligands and changed to Cu^I after bonding with phosphine. The following addition of NaBH₄ and the aging step further reduced it to the Cu₅₃ NC.     

Dinuclear Cu(II) complexes based on p‐xylylene‐bridged bis(1,4,7‐triazacyclononane) ligands: Synthesis,characterization, DNA cleavage abilities and evaluation of superoxide dismutase‐ and catalase‐like activities

Three new dinuclear Cu(II) complexes with the formulas [Cu₂(pxdmbtacn)Cl₄] ( 1 ), [Cu₂(pxdmbtacn)Cl_0.7(NO₃)_1.3(OH)₂(H₂O)_1.3]?6H₂O ( 2 ) and [Cu₂(pxdiprbtacn)Cl₄] ( 3 ) together with one previously reported complex, [Cu₂(pxbtacn)Cl₄] ( 4 ), were obtained from Cu(II) salts with three p‐xylylene‐bridged bis‐tacn ligands bearing pendant alkyl substituents or without pendant group. Complex 2 was structurally characterized as a centrosymmetric dinuclear molecule with each metal center being coordinated to some labile ligands in addition to one tacn ring. Based on the results of mass spectrometry and UV–visible spectroscopy, complexes 1 and 3 are capable of existing in aqueous solution as dinuclear species but 4 can partially form a dimer of the original dinuclear motif. Complexes 1 , 3 and 4 can all effectively cleave supercoiled DNA oxidatively in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities of 1 and 3 measured under physiological conditions are comparable to that of the native CuZnSOD enzyme but the enzymatic activity of 4 is about three‐ to fourfold lower. Furthermore, complexes 1 , 3 and 4 demonstrate moderate scavenging effect on hydrogen peroxide and their catalase activities are in the decreasing order of 3 > 1 > 4 .     

catena‐Poly[[(2,2′‐biimidazole‐κ2N,N′)chloro­copper(II)]‐μ‐chloro]

In the polymeric title compound, [CuCl₂(C₆H₆N₄)]_n, each Cu^II ion is five‐coordinated by four basal atoms (two N atoms from a 2,2′‐biimidazole mol­ecule and two Cl⁻ anions) and one axial Cl⁻ anion, in a distorted square‐pyramidal coordination geometry. Cl⁻ anions bridge the {Cu(C₆H₆N₄)Cl} units into one‐dimensional linear chains, which are reinforced by π–π inter­actions. Adjacent linear chains are linked by N—H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds, resulting in a grid layer. The hydrogen‐bonding pattern can be described in graph‐set notation as C(9)R(9)R(14). This study extends our knowledge of the multifunctional properties of the 2,2′‐biimidazole ligand and of the coordination stereochemistry of copper(II).     

Dicopper complexes catalyzed coupling/cyclization of 2‐bromobenzoic acids with amidines leading to quinazolinones

Dicopper(I) complexes {Cu₂(bpnp)(CH₃CN)₄}(PF₆)₂] ( 2 ), [{Cu₂(bpnp)(CH₃CN)₄}(BAr₄^F)₂] ( 3 ) and [Cu₂(bpnp)Cl₂] ( 4 ) were prepared from the complexation of [Cu(CH₃CN)₄](PF₆) with 2,7‐bis(2‐pyridyl)‐1,8‐naphthyridine (bpnp) followed by anion metathesis and treatment of chloride sequentially. The X‐ray structural analysis of 4 indicates the molecule to have a twofold axis passing through the Cu₂Cl₂ core, which has the shape of a butterfly, and that the Cu atom is tetrahedrally coordinated with in a Cl₂N₂ donor set. In preliminary experiments 2 was found to be an effective catalyst in the coupling/cyclization of 2‐bromobenzoic acids with amidines, providing the corresponding quinazolinones in good yields. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.