Synthesis, X-ray crystal structure and electrochemical properties of (dithiolato)(diimine)copper(II) complexes:: [Cu(mnt)(phen)]n and[Cu(dmit)(phen)]2

Copper (II) complexes [Cu(dmit)(phen)](2) (1) and [Cu(mnt)(phen)](n) (2) (mnt(2-) = maleonitrile-maleonitriledithiolate, dmit(2-) = 1,3-dithiole-2-thione-4,5-dithiolate, phen 1,10-phenanthroline) have been prepared by ligand-exchange between phen and [N(Bu)(4)](2)[Cu(dmit)(2)] or [N(Bu)(4)](2)[Cu(mnt)(2)]. Both complexes have been characterized by spectroscopic, electrochemical, and single-crystal X-ray analysis. In complex 1, dimers are extended into a two-dimensional array by weak S5-Cu contacts. In complex 2, monomers are extended into chains in a head-to-tail arrangement by weak Cu-S coordination bonds and pi-pi stacking interactions.