Organocuprate(III) chemistry: synthesis and reactivity of amido, cyano, phosphido and thiolato ate complexes of compper(III)

Lithium tetramethylcuprate(III) 1 reacts readily at -100 degrees C with appropriate sources of H(+) of X(+) (X = Br, I) to remove a methyl and in some cases incorporate the counterion (e.g., arylthio or cyano) to give stable complexes. These derivatives can in turn serve as starting materials for other Cu(III) complexes.