Benzophenoneimine Complexes of Copper(1)

Abstract

AbstractThe reactions of [(MeCN)4Cu]BF4 with two or three equivalents of benzophenoneimine lead to the formation of [(Ph2CNH)2]BF4 (1) and [ (Ph2CNH)3Cu]BF4 (2), respectively. A further equivalent of the ligand does not coordinate to the cation of complex 2. The crystal structures of both compounds were determined. 1 shows a linearly two‐coordinated copper(I) center with a Cu‐N distance of 1.877(2) Å. In compound 2 a distorted trigonal planar coordination of copper is observed with N‐Cu‐N angles of 114.5(2), 112.9(2) and 132.4(2)°, corresponding to two nearly equal Cu–N distances [Cu–N2 1.947(5) and Cu–N3 1.934(5) Å] dnd a significantly longer third one (Cu‐N1 2.011(5) Å]. A comparison of these data with recently determined structures of bis(benzophenoneimine)silver(I) and ‐gold(I) complexes shows that the covalent radii of the monovalent coinage metals decrease in the order Ag(I) > Au(I) > Cu(I).