Trimethylphenylimido pentyl Toluene

2 CuO-tert-Bu + 2 HLMe Me3 + C6H5Me [LMe Me3Cu]2(C6H5Me) + 2 tert-BuOH 

The [3-diketiminato copper complex is a pale yellow solid that is freely soluble in benzene, toluene, chlorobenzene, THF, and acetonitrile while partially soluble in diethyl ether and pentane. In solution, the toluene ligand dissociates. When dissolved in benzene, for example, the NMR spectrum exhibits signals for both LMe Me3cu(benZene) (major species) and [LMe,Me3Cu]2(benzene) (minor species). The copper complex reacts slowly with chloroform and dichloromethane, resulting in a gradual darkening of the solution to purple. 

1H NMR spectra in benzene- i6 indicate a mixture of dinuclear LMe Me3Cu 2(ji-benzene) and mononuclear LMe,Me3Cu(benzene) along with free toluene (8 7.13-7.02 (m, 5, toluene-Ar), 2.10 (s, 3, toluene-C )).2, = LMc Mc3Cu (benzene)]2/[ LMe,Me3Cu 2( a,-benzene)] was about 0.5 M at 25°C with the mononuclear species predominating under typical NMR concentrations (0.01-0.1 M). 

The authors thank Georgetown University, the Petroleum Research Fund (PRF-G and PRF-AC awards to T.H.W.), and the U.S. National Science Foundation (CHE-0716304 and CHE-0135057, CAREER Award to T.H.W.) for support of this research. 

Hakansson, C. Lopes, and S. Jagner, Inorg. Chim. Acta 304, 178 (2000). 

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