Complexes between copper(I) halides and 1,2-phenylenediamine

Two copper(I) compounds containing 1,2-phenylenediamine have been prepared and characterised by means of crystal structure determination. The compounds catena-μ-1,2-phenylenediamine(acetonitrile)chlorocopper(I) (1) and catena-μ-1,2-phenylenediamine(acetonitrile)bromocopper(I) (2) are isostructural, bridging to form polymeric chains being effected solely by the aromatic amine and not by halide. Copper(I) exhibits distorted tetrahedral coordination geometry in both complexes. The chains are interconnected to form layers through short intermolecular X⋯H interactions of 2.3–2.6 Å, involving amine hydrogen atoms and the terminal chloride or bromide bonded to copper(I). Neither compound is prone to decomposition by loss of the acetonitrile ligand, the reason for this being apparent from inspection of their crystal structures.