Copper complex compounds with tertiary alkylphosphines

In contrast to the tertiary amines, trialkylphosphines have strong donor properties and form exceedingly stable coordination complexes with a wide variety of metal salts such as those of univalent copper and gold, and bivalent platinum, palladium, and mercury.1 Like phosphine itself, many of these tertiary alkylphosphines are highly flammable, toxic, and extremely susceptible to air oxidation. Ease of oxidation first decreases and then increases as the alkyl group becomes larger.2 3,4 5 The n-butyl compound is thus a convenient member of this group for preparation. 

---