Synthesis and properties of new dicopper diamond core structures

Recently, our group has synthesized amido-bridged Cu_2N_2 dicopper complexes supported by anionic [SNS]- and [PNP]- tridentate ligands. These species exhibit interesting electrochem. and photophys. properties. For example, we have shown that the dinuclear complexes {[SNS]Cu^I}_2 and {[SNS]Cu^(1.5)}_2+ are related by a fully reversible one-electron redox process characterized by minimal structural reorganization between the two redox forms. More recently, we have prepd. highly emissive {[PNP]Cu^I}_2 derivs. that are also redox active. In this talk I will discuss recent efforts to extend these Cu_2N_2 diamond core structures to related Cu_2P_2 structures in which the Cu to Cu distance is significantly increased. Complexes of these types will allow us to probe structure/function relationships in greater detail, which is of particular interest to our understanding of the fascinating electrochem. and photophys. properties of the Cu _2N_2 systems.