Complexes between copper(I) chloride and polydentate aromatic amines

Two compounds containing polydentate aromatic amines have been prepared and characterised by means of crystal structure determination. Compound 1, catena-μ-chloro-μ-1,4-phenylenediamine-(acetonitrile)copper(I), is an infinite polymeric chain in which copper(I) is bridged alternately by the amine and by chloride. Compound 2, bis[tris(4-aminophenyl)amine](acetonitrile)chlorocopper(I), is a discrete monomer, neutral monomeric complexes being unusual among aminochlorocopper(I) compounds. Moreover, 2 would seem to be the first metal complex containing tris(4-aminophenyl)amine as a ligand whose structure has been determined. copper(I) exhibits distorted tetrahedral coordination geometry in both complexes. Whereas 1 decomposes owing to loss of acetonitrile solvent immediately on exposure to the atmosphere, 2 is far more resistant to decomposition, the solvent molecule being protected by intramolecular and intermolecular pockets formed by the phenyl groups of the triphenylamine ligand.