Copper(I) Complexes of Anionic Tridentate CNC Pincer Ligands

Abstract

New monoanionic CNC pincer ligands, [N{SiMe2CH2(RIm)}2]– (R = tBu, iPr, Ph) featuring three different N‐heterocyclic carbenes and a disilylamido moiety is reported. Treatment of the lithium salt of [N{SiMe2CH2(RIm)}2]– with CuIOTf afforded the corresponding copper complexes [N{SiMe2CH2(RIm)}2]Cu in 41–56 % yield. X‐ray crystal structures of [N{SiMe2CH2(RIm)}2]Cu show that they are monomeric and feature three‐coordinate, pseudo T‐shaped copper(I) sites. The X‐ray crystal structure of one of the precursor lithium complexes, [N{SiMe2CH2(tBuIm)}2]Li is also presented.