Synthesis and characterization of [Cu(Phca2en)(PPh3)X] (X=Cl, Br, I, NCS, N3) complexes: crystal structures of [Cu(Phca2en)(PPh3)Br] and [Cu(Phca2en)(PPh3)I]

New mixed-ligand copper(I) complexes, [Cu(Phca2en)(PPh3)X], [Phca2en = N,N′-bis(β-phenylci-nnamaldehyde)-1,2-diiminoethane and X=Cl (1), Br (2), I (3), NCS (4), N3 (5)] have been synthesized and characterized by various techniques. 1H and 13C-NMR and IR spectral data of these copper(I) complexes are compared with the free ligand to elucidate some structural features. The structures of [Cu(Phca2en)(PPh3)Br] (2) and [Cu(Phca2en)(PPh3)I] (3) have been determined from single-crystal data showing that the coordination geometry around copper atom is a distorted tetrahedron. Furthermore, these Cu(I) complexes exhibit supramolecular motifs of the type multiple phenyl embraces resulting from attractive interactions between phenyl rings of PPh3 moieties. The presence of the C–H…Cu weak intramolecular hydrogen bonds, due to the trapping of C–H bonds in the vicinity of the metal atoms, is also reported.