Solid state and solution investigations of derivatives of Group 11 metal ions with 1-benzyl-2-imidazolyldiphenylphosphine (L). Electrochemical behavior of [M2L3]2+ (M=CuI; AgI) and [AuL2]+ complexes

The molecular crystal structure of (Bzim)Ph2P=L=1-benzyl-2-imidazolyldiphenylphosphine (monoclinic; space group P21/c #14; a=9.054(2), b=9.394(3), c=21.677(8) Å; β=94.52(2)°; Z=4) is reported here. This new P,N ligand reacts with CuI or AgI metal ions to give [M2L3]2+ dinuclear complexes where the bihapto ligand always bridges the metal centers. When L was added to [Au2L2]2+ complex the dinuclear gold cycle underwent a cleavage and the mononuclear species [AuL2]+ was obtained. The solution behavior of the complexes was investigated by 1H and 31P NMR at variable temperature, showing neither dissociative nor equilibrium reactions. The strong coordinating ability of the (Bzim)Ph2P ligand was also indicated by cyclic voltammetry investigation and the electrogenerated Ag(0) neutral complex, namely [Ag2(μ-(Bzim)Ph2P)3], was detected as transient compound. The molecular crystal structure of [Cu2(μ-(Bzim)Ph2P)3][BF4]2 is also reported (monoclinic; space group P21/n #14; a=19.413(9), b=19.81(1), c=21.678(7) Å; β=115.51(2)°; Z=4).