A Stable and Photoreactive Copper‐Iodide Cubane Suitable for Direct Post‐Functionalization

Tetranuclear copper‐iodide cluster consisting of a {Cu4I4} cubane and diphenylphosphine ligand has been found as a highly stable precursor for further post‐functionalization through hydrophosphination reaction. UV irradiation of the cluster in the presence of various alkenes allows direct functionalization of the latter, giving access to a wide range of copper cubane complexes, a source of molecular diversity for luminescent materials. Such a strategy provided access to the first example of water‐soluble luminescent cubane copper iodide. Tetranuclear copper‐iodide cubane bearing diphenylphosphine ligand was found to be a very stable precursor for subsequent post‐functionalization by hydrophosphination reaction under UV irradiation.