Mononuclear and dinuclear copper(I) complexes of bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)methane: synthesis, structure, and reactivity

The synthesis and structures of a mononuclear copper(I) carbonyl complex [Cu(OClO3)(CO)(H2CPz2')] (3) and a dinuclear copper(I) carbonyl complex [{Cu(CO)(H2CPz2')}2(mu-pyrazine)](ClO4)2 (4), where H2CPz2' = bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)methane, are described. These two compounds were generated by the carbonylation of the corresponding copper(I)-acetonitrile complexes, [Cu(H2CPz2')(MeCN)](ClO4) (1) and [{Cu(H2CPz2')(MeCN)}2(mu-pyrazine)](ClO4)2 (2). Alternatively, treatment of mononuclear 1 and 3, respectively, with pyrazine in a molar ratio of 2:1 produces the pyrazine-bridged dinuclear Cu(I) complexes 2 and 4. Each of the complexes 1-4 can react with PPh3 to generate a common three-coordinated copper(I) complex [Cu(PPh3)(H2CPz2')](ClO4) (5). The structures of complexes 1-5 were all confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Comparison of the Cu(I)-C(CO) bond distances and the CO stretching frequencies of 3 and 4 indicates the back-donating properties of d pi(Cu)-pi*(pyrazine) bonds in 4, and accordingly, stabilizes the mixed-valence species generated from 2. Complex 3, stabilized by the strong interaction between copper(I) ion and perchlorate counteranion (Cu(I)-O(ClO4) = 2.240(3) A), is a potential precursor for polynuclear copper(I) carbonyl complexes.