Synthesis, structures and properties of three copper complexes created via in situ ligand cross-coupling reactions

Abstract

Three copper complexes {[Cu₂(L¹)₂]·I₃} _n (1), [Cu(L²)₂] (2), and [Cu₂I₂(L³)₂(MBI)₂] (3) (MBI = 2-mercaptobenzimidazole, L¹ = N-(benzothiazol-2-yl)acetamidine anion, L² = N-(thiazol-2-yl) acetamidine anion, L³ = 3-methyl-[1,2,4]thiadiazolo[4,5-a]benzimidazole) have been synthesized solvothermally by the reactions of CuI with 2-benzothiazolamine, 2-aminothiazole and 2-mercaptobenzimidazole (MBI), respectively, in acetonitrile. In situ C–N (or C–S) cross-coupling ligand reactions were observed in all three complexes, and hypothetical reaction mechanisms are proposed for the formation of the ligands and their complexes. The single-crystal X-ray structural analysis reveals that both the Cu(II) and Cu(I) atoms are located in pseudo-tetrahedral environments in complex 1, and L¹ acts as a double bidentate ligand which coordinates with the Cu(I) and Cu(II) atoms to form a 1D coordination polymer. Unlike complex 1, the Cu(II) atom in complex 2 is in a square planar geometry, coordinated by two L² ligands with relatively small steric hindrance. In complex 3, the Cu(I) atoms have a distorted tetrahedral geometry, being coordinated by one nitrogen atom from L³, two sulfur atoms of MBI ligands, and one iodide. The sulfur atoms from MBI ligands bridge two Cu(I) atoms to form a binuclear complex. All three complexes exhibit relatively high thermal stabilities. Complex 1 displays intense fluorescence emission at 382 nm and complex 3 displays two intense fluorescence emissions at 401 and 555 nm.