Sulfur donor atom effects on copper(I)/O(2) chemistry with thioanisole containing tetradentate N(3)S ligand leading to μ-1,2-peroxo-dicopper(II) species.

To better understand the effect of thioether coordination in copper-O(2) chemistry, the tetradentate N(3)S ligand L(ASM) (2-(methylthio)-N,N-bis((pyridin-2-yl)methyl)benzenamine) and related alkylether ligand L(EOE) (2-ethoxy-N,N-bis((pyridin-2-yl)methyl)ethanamine) have been studied. The corresponding copper(I) complexes, [(L(ASM))Cu(I)](+) (1a) and [(L(EOE))Cu(I)](+) (3a), were studied as were the related compound [(L(ESE))Cu(I)](+) (2a, L(ESE) = (2-ethylthio-N,N-bis((pyridin-2-yl)methyl)ethanamine). The X-ray structure of 1a and its solution conductivity reveal a monomeric molecular structure possessing thioether coordination which persists in solution. In contrast, the C-O stretching frequencies of the derivative Cu(I)-CO complexes reveal that for these complexes, the modulated ligand arms, whether arylthioether, alkylthioether, or ether, are not coordinated to the cuprous ion. Electrochemical data for 1a and 2a in CH(3)CN and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) show the thioanisole moiety to be a poor electron donor compared to alkylthioether (1a is ∼200 mV more positive than 2a). The structures of [(L(ASM))Cu(II)(CH(3)OH)](2+) (1c) and [(L(ESE))Cu(II)(CH(3)OH)](2+) (2c) have also been obtained and indicate nearly identical copper coordination environments. Oxygenation of 1a at reduced temperature gives a characteristic deep blue intermediate [{(L(ASM))Cu(II)}(2)(O(2)(2-))](2+) (1b(P)) with absorption features at 442 (1,500 M(-1) cm(-1)), 530 (8,600 M(-1) cm(-1)), and 605 nm (10,400 M(-1) cm(-1)); these values compare well to the ligand-to-metal charge-transfer (LMCT) transitions previously reported for [{(L(ESE))Cu(II)}(2)(O(2)(2-))](2+) (2b(P)). Resonance Raman data for [{(L(ASM))Cu(II)}(2)(O(2)(2-))](2+) (1b(P)) support the formation of μ-1,2-peroxo species ν(O-O) = 828 cm(-1)(Δ((18)O(2)) = 48), ν(sym)(Cu-O) = 547 cm(-1) (Δ((18)O(2)) = 23), and ν(asym)(Cu-O) = 497 cm(-1) (Δ((18)O(2)) = 22) and suggest the L(ASM) ligand is a poorer electron donor to copper than is L(ESE). In contrast, the oxygenation of [(L(EOE))Cu(I)](+) (3a), possessing an ether donor as an analogue of the thioether in L(ESE), led to the formation of a bis(μ-oxo) species [{(L(EOE))Cu(III)}(2)(O(2-))(2)](2+) (3b(O); 380 nm, ε ∼ 10,000 M(-1) cm(-1)). This result provides further support for the sulfur influence in 1b(P) and 2b(P), in particular coordination of the sulfur to the Cu. Thermal decomposition of 1b(P) is accompanied by ligand sulfoxidation. The structure of [{(L(EOE))Cu(II)(Cl)}(2)](+) (3c) generated from the reductive dehalogenation of organic chlorides suggests that the ether moiety is weakly bound to the cupric ion. A detailed discussion of the spectroscopic and structural characteristics of 1b(P), 2b(P), and 3b(O) is presented.