Complexes between copper(I) chloride and polydentate aromatic amines

Journal article, 2003

Two compounds containing polydentate aromatic amines have been prepared and characterised by means of crystal structure determination. Compound 1, catena-mu-chloro-mu-1,4-phenylenediamine-(acetonitrile)copper(I), is an infinite polymeric chain in which copper(I) is bridged alternately by the amine and by chloride. Compound 2, bis[tris(4-aminophenyl)amine](acetonitrile)chlorocopper(l), is a discrete monomer, neutral monomeric complexes being unusual among aminochlorocopper(I) compounds. Moreover. 2 would seem to be the first metal complex containing tris(4-aminophenyl)amine as a ligand whose structure has been determined. copper(I) exhibits distorted tetrahedral coordination geometry in both complexes. Whereas 1 decomposes owing to loss of acetonitrile solvent immediately on exposure to the atmosphere, 2 is far more resistant to decomposition, the solvent molecule being protected by intramolecular and intermolecular pockets formed by the phenyl groups of the triphenylamine ligand.