Synthesis and characterization of [Cu(Phca2en)(PPh3)X] (X=Cl, Br, I, NCS, N3) complexes: crystal structures of [Cu(Phca2en)(PPh3)Br] and [Cu(Phca2en)(PPh3)I]

New mixed-ligand copper(I) complexes, [Cu(Phca₂en)(PPh₃)X], [Phca₂en = N,N′-bis(β-phenylci-nnamaldehyde)-1,2-diiminoethane and X=Cl (1), Br (2), I (3), NCS (4), N₃ (5)] have been synthesized and characterized by various techniques. ¹H and ¹³C-NMR and IR spectral data of these copper(I) complexes are compared with the free ligand to elucidate some structural features. The structures of [Cu(Phca₂en)(PPh₃)Br] (2) and [Cu(Phca₂en)(PPh₃)I] (3) have been determined from single-crystal data showing that the coordination geometry around copper atom is a distorted tetrahedron. Furthermore, these Cu(I) complexes exhibit supramolecular motifs of the type multiple phenyl embraces resulting from attractive interactions between phenyl rings of PPh₃ moieties. The presence of the C–H…Cu weak intramolecular hydrogen bonds, due to the trapping of C–H bonds in the vicinity of the metal atoms, is also reported.