Synthesis and characterization of a mixed ligand complex of copper(I) with 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline and cyanide

Abstract

Copper(I) reacts with cyanide and 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, (dmp), to form the mixed ligand complex, Cu(dmp)(CN) 2 −, which can be extracted from aqueous solutions into chloroform as an ion association complex with the tetrabutylammonium ion, (C 4H 9) 4N +. Orange-red crystals of the ion association complex have been isolated and the single crystal X-ray structure of the complex has been determined. The mixed ligand complex is formed by the reaction of Cu(dmp) 2 + with CN − or by the reaction of Cu(CN) 4 3− with dmp. The displacement constant, K d 1 for the reaction: Cu(CN) 4 3− + dmp ⇌ Cu(dmp)(CN) 2 − + 2 CN − has been determined. The calculated value for the displacement constant K d 2 , for the reaction: Cu(dmp)(CN) 2 − + dmp ⇌ Cu(dmp) 2 + + 2 CN −, cannot be reconciled with the observation that dmp readily displaced two cyanide ions from the mixed ligand complex.