Preparation and catalysis of a tri-coordinated copper(I) complex with bulky P∼N ligand

Coordination of a bulky pyridinyl-phosphine (P similar to N) ligand toward CuBr was investigated. However, this P similar to N donor behaves as a monodentate via the Coordination of phosphine to form a bromide bridged dimeric [(P similar to N)Cu(mu-Br)(2)Cu(P similar to N)], which was characterized by spectral and crystal structural analysis. It appeared that the PCu(mu-Br)(2)CUP unit is planar with a short distance between (CuCu)-Cu-...' [2.7585(9) angstrom]. The catalytic activity on Sonogashira coupling of phenylacetylene with aryl halides was studied.