The isolation and structural characterization of copper(II) complexes obtained by oxidation of the 2,6-bis(dicyclohexylphosphinomethyl)pyridine and 2-(diisopropylphosphinomethyl)-1-methylimidazole ligands

The reactions of [Cu(NCCH3)4]BF4 with 2,6-(dicyclohexylphosphinomethyl)pyridine and 2-(diisopropylphosphinomethyl)-1-methylimidazole afford Cu(I) species that convert slowly to the Cu(II) complexes [CuCl{Cy2P(O)CH2pyCH2P(O)Cy2}(H2O)]BF4 and [Cu{MelmCH2P(O)Pri2}2](BF4)2, respectively, when their solutions are exposed to air. The structures of the Cu(II) complexes have been established by X-ray crystallography.