Copper(III) coordination compounds: Classification and analysis of crystallographic and structural data

Copper is classed as a transition metal both from its physico-chemical properties and its biochemical behavior. This review includes thirty formally copper(III) compounds where crystal structure has been determined. Coordination number four dominates with mostly a square-planar arrangement about the copper(III) atom. Sulfur donor ligands by far prevail. In general the Cu-L bond distance elongated with a decreased oxidation state of copper in the sequence: Cu(III)-L < Cu(II)-L < Cu(I)-L. Examples of distortion isomerism exist.