Structures of the Copper(I) and Copper(II) Complexes of 2,9-Diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline: Implications for Excited-State Structural Distortion.

The syntheses, crystal structures, and electronic absorption spectra of the copper(I) and copper(II) complexes of 2,9-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (dpp) are reported. The complex [Cu(dpp)(2)](PF(6)) (1) crystallizes in space group P2(1)/c with a = 11.081(4) Å, b = 25.491(8) Å, c = 14.263(5) Å, beta = 92.84(3) degrees, Z = 4, and V = 4024(2) Å(3). For 4813 unique data with F > 4.0sigma(F), R = 5.41% and R(w) = 6.43%. The coordination geometry about the copper(I) center in [Cu(dpp)(2)](+) is best described as distorted tetrahedral with approximate C(2) symmetry. The structure of [Cu(dpp)(2)](+) is largely determined by interligand pi-stacking interactions that occur between the phenyl groups of one ligand and the phenanthroline moiety of the other ligand. Solution-state absorption and (1)H NMR spectra indicate that the [Cu(dpp)(2)](+) complex is fluxional in solution, rocking between two enantiomeric structures of C(2) molecular symmetry through an intermediate of C(s)() symmetry. The complex [Cu(dpp)(2)](ClO(4))(2) (2) crystallizes in space group P&onemacr; with a = 7.809(3) Å, b = 13.027(6) Å, c = 20.344(10) Å, alpha = 87.68(4) degrees, beta = 89.16(4) degrees, gamma = 79.26(4) degrees, Z = 2, and V = 2032(1) Å(3). For 4943 unique data with F > 4.0sigma(F), R = 5.22% and R(w) = 5.37%. The coordination geometry about the copper(II) center in [Cu(dpp)(2)](2+) is best described as flattened tetrahedral with approximate D(2) symmetry. There are no interligand pi-stacking interactions in the structure of [Cu(dpp)(2)](2+). The four-coordinate geometry in [Cu(dpp)(2)](2+) persists in solution on the basis of solution-state and solid-state absorption spectroscopy. Structural distortion in the metal-to-ligand charge-transfer excited state of [Cu(dpp)(2)](+) is discussed on the basis of the structures of 1 and 2.