Synthesis and Characterization of Tris(oxazolinyl)borato Copper(II) and Copper(I) Complexes

The reaction of ToMTl (ToM=tris(4,4-dimethyl-2-oxazolinyl)phenylborate) and CuBr2 in benzene at 60 °C provides ToMCuBr (1) as an entry-point into tris(oxazolinyl)phenylborato copper chemistry. ToMCuOtBu (2) ToMCuOAc (3) are prepared by the reactions with KOtBu NaOAc, respectively. is transformed (ToMCuOH)2 (4) through hydrolysis. NMR, FT-IR, EPR spectroscopies used to determine electronic structural properties these copper(II) compounds, solid-state structures were characterized X-ray crystallography. Reduction observed upon treatment phenylsilane attempt synthesize monomeric hydride. ToMCu (5) ToM2Cu (6) independently synthesized for comparison.