Butterfly‐Like Tetranuclear Copper(I) Clusters for Efficient Alkyne Homocoupling Reactions. Issue 4 (10th December 2020) - Yin, Chengyang
Abstract: In this work, we here prepare a new tetranuclear Cu I cluster with a precise configuration of Cu4 (PPh3 )4 (bis(prop‐2‐ynyloxy)biphenyl)2 . X‐ray single‐crystal diffraction shows that the bi‐alkynyl ligands bind to two Cu atoms via a σ‐bond and to the other two Cu atoms via a π‐bond configuration, presenting a new alkynyl‐Cu motif and a butterfly‐like framework. Cu4 (PPh3 )4 L2 clusters exhibit photoluminescence property at 410 and 505 nm. Cu4 (PPh3 )4 L2 clusters also give good performances in the alkyne homocoupling reactions after its immobilization on different oxides. The copper(I) species is proved to be the catalytic active site during the homocoupling reactions. And the basic property of the oxides (e. g. NiO) can promote the coupling catalysis, and a side‐group effect of the alkyne reactants is distinctly observed. In all, this study extends the catalytic application of the copper clusters to the carbon‐carbon coupling reactions and gives some cue to develop the potential exploitation of copper clusters in other organic transformations. Abstract : A new tetranuclear Cu I clusters with a precise molecule of Cu4 (PPh3 )4 (bis(prop‐2‐ynyloxy)biphenyl)2 was prepared. X‐ray single‐crystal diffraction shows that the bi‐alkynyl ligands bind to two Cu atoms via σ‐bond and to the other two Cu atoms via π‐bond configurations, presenting a new alkynyl‐Cu motif and a butterfly‐like structure.The Cu4 clusters give good performance in the alkyne homocoupling reactions after its immobilization on different oxides.