The homoleptic copper(i) complexes [Cu(NCNRR′)4](BF4) (R/R′ = Me/Me 1, Et/Et 2, C5H103, C4H8O 4, C4H85, C3H6C6H46, CH2Ph/CH2Ph 7, Me/Ph 8) featuring disubstituted cyanamides were obtained in excellent (92-97%) yields by the reaction of [Cu(NCMe)4](BF4) and 4 equivalents of NCNRR′. Complexes 1-8 were characterized by atomic absorption spectrometry (Cu%), high resolution ESI+-MS, molar conductivities, TG/DTA, and 1H, 13C{1H} NMR, FTIR spectroscopic techniques, and also by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (1, 3, and 4). Results of DFT calculations and X-ray structure determinations reveal that equilibrium geometries of [Cu(NCMe)4]+ and [Cu(NCNMe2)4]+ in the gas phase are normal tetrahedral (Td) and significantly distorted, respectively. Effects of crystal packing influence the values of the Cu-N-C angles in [Cu(NCNRR′)4]+, which points out to the noticeable contribution of the heterocumulene mesomeric form for the dialkylcyanamide copper(i) complexes. The QTAIM and NBO analyses indicate that relatively weak Cu-N contacts (15-31 kcal mol-1) in both cases exhibit single bond character and clearly polarized toward the N atom (by 91-95%). The CDA shows that the {M} ← L σ-donation substantially prevails over the {M} → L π-back-donation in both [Cu(NCMe)4]+ and [Cu(NCNMe2)4]+. The orbital, charge, and vibrational frequency arguments as well as inspection of the FTIR data suggest that the electrophilic activation of the NC group in homoleptic nitrile and dialkylcyanamide copper(i) complexes is similar, and the different behavior of nitriles and cyanamides in the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of ketonitrones is mainly due to the difference in the atomic charges.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)14557-14566
Number of pages10
JournalNew Journal of Chemistry
Volume41
Issue number23
DOIs
StatePublished - 2017

    Scopus subject areas

  • Catalysis
  • Chemistry(all)
  • Materials Chemistry

ID: 9344931