Dicopper(I) complexes of the novel phosphorusbipyridyl ligand 6-diphenylphosphino-2,2′-bipyridyl

Reaction of 6-diphenylphosphino-2,2′-bipyridine (Ph2Pbipy) with copper(I) precursors such as [Cu(MeCN)4]+ and [Cu(2,2′-bipy)(MeCN)2]+ affords dinuclear phosphorusbipyridyl ligand-bridged dicopper products and in particular [Cu2(μ-Ph2Pbipy)2 (MeCN)2]2+ (1 and [Cu2(2,2′-bipy)(μ-Ph2Pbipy)2]2+ (2), respectively. The ligand coordinates head-to-tail in 1, and head-to-head in 2, as established by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies.