Reactions of Copper(II) Chloride in Solution: Facile Formation of Tetranuclear Copper Clusters and Other Complexes That Are Relevant in Catalytic Redox Processes

Mixing CuCl₂ ? 2 H₂O with benzylamine in alcoholic solutions led to an extremely colorful chemistry caused by the formation of a large number of different complexes. Many of these different species could be structurally characterized. These include relatively simple compounds such as [Cu(L¹)₄Cl₂] (L¹=benzylamine) and (HL¹)₂[CuCl₄]. Most interestingly is the easy formation of two cluster complexes, one based on two cluster units Cu₄OCl₆(L¹)₄ connected through one [Cu(L¹)₂Cl₂] complex and one based on a cubane‐type cluster ([Cu₄O₄](C₁₁H₁₄)₄Cl₄). Both clusters proved to be highly reactive in a series of oxidation reactions of organic substrates by using air or peroxides as oxidants. Furthermore, it was possible to isolate and structurally characterize ([Cu(L¹)Cl]₃ and [Cu(benz₂mpa)₂]CuCl₂ (benz₂mpa=benzyl‐(2‐benzylimino‐1‐methyl‐propylidene)‐amine), two copper(I) complexes that formed in solution, demonstrating the high redox activity of the cluster systems. In addition, it was possible to solve the molecular structures of the compounds Cu₄OCl₆(MeOH)₄, [Cu(MeOH)₂Cl₂], [Cu(aniline)₂Cl₂], and an organic side product (HC₁₃H₁₉NOCl). In fact all determined structures are of a known type but the chemical relation between these compounds could be explained for the first time. The paper describes these different compounds and their chemical equilibria. Some of these complexes seem to be relevant in catalytic oxidation reactions and their reactivity is discussed in more detail.