Copper(I) coordination polymers [{Cu(mu-X)}2{RP(mu-NtBu)}2]n (R = OC6H4OMe-o; X = Cl, Br, and I) and their reversible conversion into mononuclear complexes [CuX{(RP(mu-NtBu)2}2]: synthesis and structural characterization.

The reactions of cyclodiphosphazane cis-[tBuNP(OC6H4OMe-o)]2 (1) with 2 equiv of CuX in acetonitrile afforded one-dimensional Cu(I) coordination polymers [Cu2X2{tBuNP(OC6H4OMe-o)}2]n (2, X = Cl; 3, X = Br; 4, X = I). The crystal structures of 2 and 4 reveal a zigzag arrangement of [P(mu-N)(2)P] and [Cu(mu-X)(2)Cu] units in an alternating manner to form one-dimensional Cu(I) coordination polymers. The reaction between 1 and CuX in a 2:1 ratio afforded mononuclear tricoordinated copper(I) complexes of the type [CuX{(tBuNP(OC6H4OMe-o))2}2] (5, X = Cl; 6, X = Br; 7, X = I). The single-crystal structures were established for the mononuclear copper(I) complexes 5 and 6. When the reactant ratios are 1:1, the formation of a mixture of polymeric and mononuclear products was observed. The Cu(I) polymers (2-4) were converted into the mononuclear complexes (5-7) by reacting with 3 equiv of 1 in dimethyl sulfoxide. Similarly, the mononuclear complexes (5-7) were converted into the corresponding polymeric complexes (2-4) by reacting with 3 equiv of copper(I) halide under mild reaction conditions.