An extended trisazo dipyridyl ligand, L, and its copper(I) complex, [1]+, were synthesized and fully characterized. Complex [1]+ has five coordination geometry satisfied by ligand L. L has a low-lying π* orbital; thus, [1]+ showed very facile multiple ligand-based redox events. Moreover, due to the strong π-acceptor nature of L, the Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox potential of [1]+ was anodic (0.62 V). The redox events of both L and [1]+ were characterized using various spectroscopic studies and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Taking advantage of the multiple facile ligand-based reductions in [1]+, the Glaser coupling reaction of terminal alkynes was explored. Various kinds of alkynes were found to be effective when using [1]+ as a precatalyst. The mechanism of the reaction was investigated thoroughly by several controlled experiments, isolation, and characterization of the intermediates using various spectroscopic studies as well as by single-crystal X-ray structure determination. These studies showed that the L in [1]+ acted not only in the electron transfer events but also as a locus for binding the substrate, breaking and forming bonds, and, finally, releasing the product. Thus, here, the metal mainly acted as a spectator and ligand L acted as an actor.
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