Simple but effective: thermally stable Cu–ESiMe₃via NHC ligation

Abstract

A series of thermally stable N-heterocyclic copper-chalcogenolate complexes of the general formula [(IPr)Cu-ESiMe3] (IPr = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene; E = S, Se, Te) have been prepared from [(IPr)CuOAc] and E(SiMe3)2 at low temperature. The reaction of [(IPr)Cu-SSiMe3] with mercuric(II) acetate affords the heterometallic [{(IPr)CuS}2Hg] complex containing two (IPr)Cu-S(-) fragments to a central Hg(II).