Synthesis, characterization, and the role of counterion in stabilizing trigonal pyramidal copper(I)/2,2′bipyridine complexes containing electron-poor methyl acrylate

Copper(I)/2,2′-bipyridine complexes, Cu^I(bpy)(π-CH₂CHCOOCH₃)]A] have been synthesized and characterized. These complexes are used in copper(I) mediated cyclopropanation and aziridination reactions of methyl acrylate and represent the first class of trigonal pyramidal copper(I) complexes with π-coordinated electron poor olefins. In the case of 1 and 3, weak coordination of the counterion was observed. The counterion was noncoordinating in complex 2, which was dimeric in the solid state with the oxygen atoms of the carbonyl moieties in methyl acrylate bridging two copper(I) centers.