Asymmetric dinuclear copper(I) complexes of bis-(2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl)-2-(N-toluenesulfonylamino)ethylamine with short copper-copper distances.

Addition of two equivalents of CuCl to deprotonated bis-(2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl)-2-(N-toluenesulfonylamino)ethylamine (PETAEA) and its derivatives yielded new types of dinuclear Cu(I) complexes, Cu(mu-PETAEA)CuCl, Cu(mu-PEMAEA)CuCl, and Cu(mu-PENAEA)CuCl (PEMAEA is the 4-methoxyphenyl derivative of PETAEA and PENAEA is the 4-nitrophenyl derivative), exhibiting a four coordinate N(4)Cu center, a two coordinate NCuCl center, and a metal-metal distance within the range of 2.6572(8) to 2.6903(3) A.

Identification and characterization of monoanionic tripodal tetradentate ligand complexes of copper(I) and copper(II) involved in halogen atom transfer reactions.

The copper(I) complex of bis-(2-(2-pyridyl)-ethyl)-(2-(N-p-toluenesulfonamido)-ethyl)amine (PETAEA), a monoanionic, tripodal tetradentate ligand, was prepared, characterized, and shown to be an effective catalyst for atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). A model atom transfer reaction of Cu(PETAEA) with 1-phenylethyl bromide and TEMPO radical trapping agent was studied. The copper(II) complex formed in this reaction was identified by comparison of its spectroscopic data with that of Cu(PETAEA)Br prepared by an independent synthesis.