Synthesis and crystal structure of the copper silylamide cluster compound [Cu9{MesSi(NPh)3}2 (PhCO2)3]

Abstract

Abstract The trifunctional silylamine MesSi(NHPh)3 (Mes: 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl) was prepared by standard methods from MesSiCl3 and LiNHPh. Lithiation of MesSi(NHPh)3 and subsequent reaction with copper(I) benzoate afforded the nonanuclear cluster complex [Cu9{MesSi(NPh)3}2 (PhCO2)3]·2toluene. The cluster core consists of three copper atoms which are coordinated almost linearly by the nitrogen atoms of two adjacing MesSi(NPh)3 units. Additionally, each of the silylamide nitrogen atoms is connected to a peripheral copper atom and the peripheral copper atoms are linked by μ 2-κ(O,O′) bridging benzoate groups. The observed Cu–N distances are in the range 189.6(4)–196.7(3) pm.