Synthesis and characterization of [Cu(mb2en)2]ClO4 and [Cu(mb2en)(PPh3)2]BPh4: crystal structure of [Cu(mb2en)2]ClO4

The ligand, N,N′-bis-(4-methoxy-benzylidene)-ethane-1,2-diamine (mb₂en), and its corresponding copper(I) complexes, Cu(mb₂en)₂]ClO₄ (1), and Cu(mb₂en)(PPh₃)₂]BPh₄ (2), have been synthesized and characterized by CHN analyses, ¹H and ¹³C-NMR, IR, and UV-Vis spectroscopies. The crystal and molecular structure of Cu(mb₂en)₂]ClO₄ (1), were determined by X-ray crystallography from a single-crystal. The coordination polyhedron about copper(I) is best described as a distorted tetrahedron. Quasi-irreversible redox behavior was observed for 1 and 2 (E _1/2?=?0.55 and 0.95?V, respectively).