Electrochemical reduction of copper(I) mixed- ligand complexes with phosphines and heterocyclic thiones in acetonitrile solutions with glassy carbon electrodes

Abstract

Electrochemical studies of copper(I) complexes with the general formulae [Cu(totp)(L)I] and [Cu(tmtp)(L)I]2 (I and II type complexes) (where totp = tri-o-tolylphosphine, tmtp = tri-m-tolylphosphine and L = pyridine-2-thione, 1,3-thiazolidine-2- thione and benz-1,3-imidazoline-2-thione) have been carried out on a glassy carbon electrode in acetonitrile solutions. Monomeric complexes display three irreversible reduction peaks at − 1.0, − 1.7 and − 2.1 V vs saturated carbon electrode (S.C.E.) and dimeric complexes exhibit four irreversible reduction peaks at − 1.0,− 1.6, − 1.8 and − 2.1 V vs S.C.E. This provides a suitable method for characterization of the complexes in acetonitrile solution.