Dicyanoimidazole complexes of Cu(I): a carbonyl assisted alcoholysis of nitrile

We describe a series of compounds which result from the reaction of Cu(I) with 4,5-dicyanoimidazole. This ligand is far more acidic than imidazole and in all cases forms complexes as the anion. The presence of carbon monoxide with Cu(I) assists in the rapid alcoholysis of one of the nitrile groups. The resulting imino-ester remains coordinated to the copper in the phosphine derivative as confirmed by X-ray crystallography. The composition CuC42H35N4P2 crystallizes in the space group Pbca with a= 14.140(4), b=21.466(7), c=24.577(8) Å and Z=8 molecules per cell. The copper is four coordinate and the bidentate imino-ester imidazole is nearly planar. © 1986.