Coordination chemistry of copper(I) complexes with bis(phosphine) ligands

Abstract The simple mixing of copper(I) compounds with bisphosphines led to the formation of copper(I) complexes with chelating or bridging bisphosphines. A wide vasriety of mononuclear, dinuclear, and polynuclear complexes result. The bisphosphine plays a key role in determining the nuclearity, coordination number, and structure of the complexes formed. Significant deviations from the expected tetrahedral or trigonal coordination geometries are often dictated by the substituents on the phosphorus. The plasticity of the coordination sphere of copper(I) permits distortions from ideal geometries. Limitless variation of substituents on phosphorus, including the possibility of having chiral phosphines, has played a key role in the utility of these copper(I) complexes. Although catalytic reactions promoted by copper(I) complexes do not involve redox transformations, they are useful in chiral transformations.