Coordination chemistry of copper-(I) and -(II) with 2-pyridylmethyl substituted triazacyclohexanes

The syntheses of several novel copper-(I) and -(II) compounds containing triazacyclohexanes with one or three 2-pyridylmethyl substituents are described. The molecular structures of (2-PyMe)3TACCuCl23, [(2-PyMe)Et2TACCuCl2]24 and [(2-PyMe)3TACCuI](BF4) 5 have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The reactivity of 5 and [(2-PyMe)Et2TACCu](BF4) 7 towards dioxygen was investigated and a very stable oxidation product with a Cu4(OH)4 cubane core could be obtained in high yield simply by exposing 7 to the atmosphere.