Copper-NHC complexes have become increasingly popular over the last decade due to their interesting chemical and photophysical properties. The focus of our group is to unravel the interesting properties of copper complexes with mono- and poly-NHC platforms. Recently, we have developed pyridyl- and pyridylmethyl-linked Cu(I)-bis(NHC) complexes bearing electron-donating alkyl and electron-withdrawing aryl and alkyl wingtips.1 The complexes with alkyl wingtips serve as catalysts in Sonogashira-type2 and Ullmann-type3 cross-coupling reactions. Unlike other Cu(I) catalysts that require an inert atmosphere to prevent side reactions and/or conduct the best catalytic activity, the Cu-pincer bis(NHC) complexes provide good to excellent cross-coupling yields in air. Mechanistic studies have confirmed the reaction of the Cu(I)-pincer bis(NHC) complexes with O2 forming Cu-O2 adducts, and with KOtBu forming a dearomatized Cu-NHC complex. These data support the potential applicability of Cu-pincer NHC complexes as bifunctional catalysts in challenging bond activation processes. Recently, we have shown that the electronic properties of the pincer NHC ligands can be altered modularly through the aryl wingtips to affect the Cu nuclearity in the Cu-NHC complexes. We have also prepared a series of heteroleptic Cu(I) complexes supported by monodentate NHC and dipyridylamine ligands and explored their photophysical properties. Our studies, through using a collection of experimental and theoretical techniques, support the strong dependence of the light-emitting properties of these complexes on the solid-state interactions of these molecules.4

Cu(I)-NHC complexes as useful assets to chemical catalysis and light emission

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ACS Fall 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.