The synthesis and crystal structure of a new copper(I) polymer, Ph(3)P
)(2)Cu-2(mu-Cl)(2)(mu-pyrazine)}(infinity)], are reported. The polymer
is photoluminescent with its emission maximum at 16 340 cm(-1) at a t
emperature of 20 K. The emitting state is assigned with the assistance
of excited state distortions determined by using resonance Raman inte
nsities. The polymer consists of (PPh(3))(pyz)Cu(mu-Cl-2)Cu(pyz)(PPh(3
)) units in which pyrazine ligands bridge copper pairs to form a chain
of dimers. The packing arrangement contains two inversion centers. Ea
ch dimer has an inversion center between the two coppers and the bridg
ing chlorine atoms. A second inversion center is located in the center
of the pyrazine ligand, which links the dimers in an infinite linear
chain. The nitrogen atom of the pyrazine, the phosphorus atom of one t
riphenylphosphine, and the two chlorine atoms form a slightly distorte
d tetrahedron about the copper. The largest distortions in the lowest
excited electronic state, determined from the resonance Raman intensit
ies, occur along totally symmetric modes of the pyrazine ligand. The e
mission is assigned to copper(I) to pyrazine charge transfer.