Copper(I) complexes of 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)benzene as efficient catalysts for alkyne hydroamination and azide-alkyne cycloaddition

This paper reports the synthesis of a small group of three copper(I) complexes using 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino) benzene, abbreviated as dppbz, and their utilization as catalyst for C-N bond formation reactions. Reaction of dppbz has been carried out with three different copper(I) sources. While reaction with [Cu(CH3CN)4]ClO4 affords [CuI(dppbz)2]ClO4 (complex 1), that with CuI and CuSCN affords di-copper complexes [{CuI(dppbz)I}2] and [{CuI(dppbz)(SCN)}2] (complexes 2 and 3) respectively. Bulk characterization on the complexes has been done by elemental (C, H, N) analysis, magnetic susceptibility measurement, and spectroscopic (IR, NMR and UV-vis) methods. Crystal structures of all three complexes have been determined. In [CuI(dppbz)2]ClO4, copper(I) is having a highly distorted tetrahedral CuP4 core. In [{CuI(dppbz)I}2] and [{CuI(dppbz)(SCN)}2], the tetrahedral CuP2I2 and CuP2SN cores are relatively less distorted. These copper complexes have been found to serve as efficient catalyst precursors for two types of C-N bond formation reactions, viz. hydroamination and click reaction. Hydroamination of aryl alkynes with aryl amines has afforded selectively imine products of a single type (Markownikov product) in good yields under relatively mild condition. However, similar hydroamination with benzyl amines or alkyl amines has afforded selectively anti-Markownikov imine products. Click reaction between aryl alkynes and aryl azides yielding the cycloaddition products has also been brought about successfully with remarkable catalytic efficiency.