Inorganic Chemistry, Vol.38, No.15, 3484-3488, 1999
Design of ligands that stabilize Cu(I) and shift the reduction potential of the Cu-II/I couple cathodically in aqueous solutions
The ligands R2NCH2CH2N(R)CH2CH2N(R)CH2CH=CH2, when R = H, CH3, were synthesized. The stability constants of their complexes with Cu(II) and Cu(I) in aqueous solutions were determined. Both ligands stabilize Cu(I) in aqueous solutions, though the reduction potentials of both (CuLI)(2+/+) couples are shifted cathodically in comparison to the Cu-aq(2+/+) couple. These properties indicate that these complexes should be good catalysts for a variety of processes that are catalyzed by Cu(I).