Unprecedented phosphino copper(I) derivatives of tris(pyrazolyl)methanesulfonate ligand co-ordinated to metal in an unusual κ3-N,N′,O fashion

New copper(I) triorganophosphine derivatives [Cu(R3P)(Tpms)] have been synthesised from the reaction of CuCl with PR3 (R = phenyl or p-tolyl) and lithium tris(pyrazolyl)methanesulfonate (Tpms). The complexes obtained have been characterised by elemental analyses and FT-IR in the solid state and by NMR (1H and 31P{1H}) spectroscopy and conductivity measurements in solution. Single crystal structural characterisations were undertaken for [Cu(Ph3P)(Tpms)] which is the first example of structurally characterised complex containing the [Tpms] ligand co-ordinated to a metal ion in an unusual κ3-N,N′,O fashion.