Crystal and molecular structures of {Cu(μ-Ctriple bond; length of mdashCPh)(triphos)}2 [triphos = (PPh2CH2)3CMe]

The binuclear complex {Cu(μ-Ctriple bond; length of mdashCPh)(triphos)}2 [triphos = (PPh2CH2)3CMe] has been obtained from a reaction between {Cu(Ctriple bond; length of mdashCPh)}n and triphos. The two copper atoms are bridged unsymmetrically by two Ctriple bond; length of mdashCPh groups, each attached through one carbon only [Cu–C, 2.016(4) Å], the separation between the two coppers being 2.4663(8) Å. Only two of the three phosphorus atoms in each ligand are coordinated to copper [Cu–P(1,2) 2.281, 2.273(1) Å]. The observed structure may be rationalised using a recent theoretical study [C. Mealli, S.S.M.C. Godinho, M.J. Calhorda, Organometallics 20 (2001) 1734] and differs from that assumed for the rationalisation of its luminescence properties [V. Pawlowski, G. Knör, C. Lennartz, A. Vogler, Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. (2005) 3167].