The First Bis Phosphine monoxide (BPMO) Complexes of Copper(I)

Copper(I) complexes of bis phosphine monoxide ligands, diphenylphosphinoethane monoxide (dppeo) and diphenylphosphinomethane monoxide (dppmo) have been prepared and characterized. One of the complexes with dppeo was characterized by X-ray crystal structure analysis confirming Cu(I) coordination to hard and soft donors. The stability of these complexes in solution was probed via spectroscopic and electrochemical studies. Copper(I) is more readily oxidized in the presence of the hard O donor ligands. In solution, they readily exchange the hard donor O, for soft ligands. Although copper(I) prefers soft ligands and is more stable towards oxidation in their presence, it coordinates to hard donors when there is electrostatic or an entropy driven advantage