Electrochemical synthesis and structural characterization of a novel mixed-valence copper(I)-copper(II) complex: {[bis(ethylenediamine)copper(II)] bis[diiodocuprate(I)]}.

A novel, mixed-valent copper(I)-copper(II) complex, {[bis(ethylene-diamine)copper(II)] bis[diiodocuprate(I)]} (1), has been prepared by electrochemical dissolution of a sacrificial copper anode in a solution of ethylenediamine (en), I2 and tetraethylammoniumperchlorate (TEAP) as supporting electrolyte in acetonitrile (AcN)and characterized by single-crystal X-ray structure determination. The crystal structure of the complex 1 shows that it consists of a CuI2 polymer formed from I- ligands bridging Cu(I) ions, with a nearly square planar geometry of bivalent Cu(II) atoms chelated by two ethylenediamine ligands. The results also show that direct electrosynthesis of the complex had high current efficiency, purity and electrolysis yield.