Syntheses, Characterization, and Reactivities of (μ-η2:η2-Disulfido)dicopper(II) Complexes with N-Alkylated cis,cis-1,3,5-Triaminocyclohexane Derivatives

Three novel (disulfido)dicopper(II) complexes with N-alkylated cis,cis-1,3,5-triaminocyclohexane derivatives, [Cu2(S2)(R3TACH)]X2 [(R, X) = (Et, CF3SO3) (1), (iBu, SbF6) (2), and (Bn, SbF6) (3)], have been synthesized and characterized by elemental, electrochemical, and X-ray structure analyses, and electronic absorption, IR, ESI mass, and resonance Raman spectroscopic methods. The X-ray crystal structures indicate that the two sulfur and two copper atoms of these complexes form a Cu2(S2) structure with slight bending of the two planes defined by the CuS2 plane at angles of 166.12° (the individual bending angles are 175.56° for 1a and 156.67° for 1b), 154.74°, and 180° for 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The UV/Vis absorption spectra of 1, 2, and 3 have a sharp band at ca. 360 nm with a broadened shoulder at 400–480 nm and low intensity d–d bands in the range 666–671 nm. The resonance Raman spectra of the complexes have peaks assignable to a ν(S–S) band at 483–484 cm–1. The complexes have reduction waves at –974 to –946 vs. [Fe(C5H5)2]/[Fe(C5H5)2]+ for 1, –993 to –976 for 2, and –948 to –928 mV for 3. These values are in a low-potential region relative to bis(μ-OH)dicopper complexes with R3TACH. This may be explained by the occurrence of strong π-donation from the disulfide ligands as observed for previously reported (disulfido)Ru complexes. Compounds 1, 2, and 3 react with PPh3 to give S=PPh3 in yields of 65 ± 3.5, 76 ± 1, and 50 ± 2 %, respectively. These results are discussed in terms of the relationship between the dihedral angles in the Cu2(S2) core and the reactivity of S22–. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)