N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) support neutral copper hydride dimers, featuring two hydride bridges, and singly hydride-bridged dicopper cations. Spectroscopic evidence for the favorability of a dimeric solution structure of neutral (NHC)copper(I) hydrides is presented. Stabilization of this core using expanded-ring NHC’s confers new reactivity with alkenes and isonitriles. These robust complexes permit further study into the role of a monomer-dimer equilibrium on the 1,2-insertion of unsaturated C-C and C-O bonds. Interaction of Lewis bases with neutral and cationic dicopper hydrides, and their insertion products will also be presented. Additionally, suitable Lewis bases bind reversibly, facilitating new reactivity.

Influence of the dicopper core on the reactivity of copper(I) hydrides

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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