Notes. Oxidative addition of dibenzoyl peroxide on metallic copper. The crystal structure of [{Cu(C6H5CO2)2(py)}2]

Abstract

Dibenzoyl peroxide in pyridine (py) undergoes facile oxidative addition with metallic copper and affords the complex [{Cu(C₆H₅CO₂)₂(py)}₂]. Crystals are monoclinic, space group P2₁/n, with cell parameters a= 10.036(1), b= 10.467(1), c= 17.344(2)Å, β= 98.66(1)°, and Z= 2. The copper atoms are bridged in pairs by four benzoate groups to form binuclear molecules. The copper atom is 0.217 Å out of the plane of the four oxygen atoms (Cu–O from 1.960 to 1.979 Å) to which it is bonded, towards the nitrogen atom of the pyridine ligand. The octahedral co-ordination around the copper atom is completed by the nitrogen atom of the pyridine molecule (Cu–N 2.170 Å) and by the second copper atom (Cu ⋯ Cu 2.658 Å). The binuclear molecule as a whole possesses a centre of symmetry.