Synthesis, crystal structures and reactivity towards dioxygen of copper(I) complexes with tripodal aliphatic amine ligands

Copper(I) complexes of the tripodal, tetradentate, aliphatic ligands Me(3)tren (Me(3)tren = tris-(2-methylaminoethyl)amine), lsoprop(3)tren (lsoprop(3)tren = tris-(2-isopropylaminoethyl)amine) and Me(3)isoprop(3)tren (Me(3)isoprop(3)tren = tris-(2-isopropylmethylaminoethyl)amine) of the Tren-family (Tren = tris(2-aminoethyl)amine) were prepared and structurally characterized. Furthermore, they were reacted in solution at low temperatures with dioxygen. All complexes formed a short-lived superoxido intermediate complex that could be observed using low temperature stopped-flow techniques prior to consecutive reactions. However, the superoxido complexes were too reactive to allow isolation and full characterization in contrast to previous work. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.