Linking of CuI Units by Tetrahedral Mo2E2 Complexes (E=P,As)

The reaction of [Cp₂Mo₂(CO)₄(μ,η^2:2-E₂)] ( A : E=P, B : E=As, Cp=C₅H₅) with the WCA-containing Cu^I salts ([Cu(CH₃CN)₄][Al{OC(CF₃)₃}₄] (CuTEF, C ), [Cu(CH₃CN)₄][BF₄] ( D ) and [Cu(CH₃CN)_3.5][FAl{OC₆F₁₀(C₆F₅)}₃] (CuFAl, E )) affords seven unprecedented coordination compounds. Depending on the E₂ ligand complex, the counter anion of the copper salt and the stoichiometry, four dinuclear copper dimers and three trinuclear copper compounds are accessible. The latter complexes reveal first linear Cu₃ arrays linked by E₂ units (E=P, As) coordinated in an η^2:1:1 coordination mode. All compounds were characterized by X-ray crystallography, NMR and IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. To define the nature of the Cu⋅⋅⋅Cu⋅⋅⋅Cu interactions, DFT calculations were performed.