Synthetic protocols and applications of copper(I) phosphine and copper(I) phosphine/diimine complexes

The general and well-defined synthetic strategies to access mononuclear and binuclear homoleptic copper(I)-phosphines complexes were listed and discussed. Moreover, the synthetic protocols to obtain mononuclear and binuclear heteroleptic copper(I)-phosphine complexes containing halides, pseudohalides and/or N-containing ligands were covered, underlining a wide range of structurally varied phosphine and diimine ligands. The effect of the steric hinderance and electronic properties of the ligands on the geometrical structure of copper(I) were highlighted. The importance of this class of complexes are stemmed from their properties; their catalytic, photophysical and biological applications were highlighted with emphasis on the role of the phosphine and diimine ligands.