Direct electrosynthesis of cyano copper(I) complexes: X-ray crystal structure of (cyano-C)(2,2′-bipyridine-N,N′)(triphenylphosphane)copper(I)

Abstract

Electrosyntheses of cyano copper(I) complexes were carried out by galvanostatic dissolution of copper metal into an acetonitrile solution of malononitrile, used as starting material. Electrochemical reductive cleavage of malononitrile occurs, at the cathode, leading to the formation of cyanide. In the presence of different donors the complexes [Cu(CN)(PPh₃)₂]·CH₃CN (1) and [Cu(CN)(bipy)(PPh₃)] (2) are obtained. The compounds were characterized analytically and the molecular structure of 2 was determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Crystals are triclinic and consist of monomeric molecules in which the copper atom has distorted tetrahedral geometry.

Keywords:

• Electrosynthesis
• Cyanide
• Copper(I)
• Malononitrile
• X-ray crystal structure
• Mononuclear complex

Acknowledgements

The Land Sachsen-Anhalt and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) are gratefully acknowledged for financial support.