Electrochemical synthesis of copper nitrile complexes

Electrochemical syntheses of copper nitrile complexes by anodic dissolution of copper and cathodic reduction of malonodinitrile in a one-step reaction are reported. In the presence of different donors the following compounds are obtained and characterized analytically: {[Cu-2(mu-CN) . (CH3CN)(3)]CH( CN)(2)}(n) (1), {[Cu-2(mu-CN)(PPh3)(4)]CH(CN)(2)}(n) (2) and [Cu-2(mu-CN)(p hen)(2)(PPh3)(2)]CH(CN)(2) (3). As a result of an X-ray analysis, 3 proved to be an ionic binuclear complex in which the cyano-bridged Cu-I atoms have distorted tetrahedral coordination sphere. Both the CN group and the dicya nomethanid anion are disordered about centres of inversion.