AN N-BONDED Cu(I) THIOCYANATE COMPLEX: ISOTHIOCYANATO-(1,1,1,-TRIS(DIPHENYL-PHOSPHINOMETHYL)ETHANE) COPPER(I)

The complex [Cu(((C 6 H 5 ) 2 PCH 2 ) 3 CCH 3 ) (NCS)] has been prepared and characterized by infrared, PMR, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It has been formulated as a mixture of N- and S-bonded isomers in the solid state, the ratio of the isomers depending on the conditions of isolation of the complex as well as the sampling technique used for the infrared spectral measurements (i.e., mull vs. KBr pellet). In CHCl 3 solution the complex exists exclusively as the N-bonded isomer, although PMR spectroscopy indicates that a rapid exchange of the phosphorus sites of the ligand occurs at room temperature. The complex [Cu(P(C 6 H 5 ) 3 ) 2 SCN] 2 , in contrast, is formulated as a dimeric species in the solid state with two bridging thiocyanates. In CHCl 3 solution, however, the bridges cleave to give exclusively the N-bonded monomeric three-coordinate complex.