Crystal and molecular structures of several tetrakis (nitrile)copper(I) complexes

The crystal structures of several Cu(RCN)₄]X salts (R = Me, X = SO₃CF₃ ^–; R = Ph, X = BF₄ ^–, ClO₄ ^–, and PF₆ ^–) were determined using single crystal X-ray diffraction. All of the compounds contain distorted tetrahedral Cu(I) centers and noncoordinating anions, with the acetonitrile and benzonitrile structures containing three and one unique CuL₄ ⁺ complex in their respective asymmetric units. One important distortion is observed in the benzonitrile-Cu bonds, which are bent up to 23° away from linearity. The result is a flattened complex that maximizes the – tacking of the aromatic rings and is the dominant packing interactions between the complexes.