Copper(II) and Copper(I) Complexes Supported by Diiminodiphosphines from a Pot Reaction Under Air

A pot reaction of N,N’-bis[o-(diphenylphosphino)benzylidene]ethylenediamine (en-P2) and Cu(ClO4)2 affords two copper complexes with different oxidation sates, [CuII-en-P2(NCMe)](ClO4)21 and [CuI-en-P2]ClO42+ or Cu+ leads to a decrease on the peak intensities at 420 and 560 nm, respectively. Investigations for magnetic behaviors show that upon cooling from 300 to 2 K, the χMT value of both copper complexes 1 and 2 steadily increased. Additionally, electrochemical investigations reveal that both complexes 1 and 2 have electrocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution from acetic acid or water, and complex 1 shows a more efficient activity than complex 2. The findings show that transition metal complexes may exhibit various functions in different directions.