Thiophenophane–metal complexes. I. Preparation, X-ray structure, and cyclic voltammetry of 2,5,8-trithia[9](2,5)thiophenophane, L, and of its metalcomplexcation bis(2,5,8-trithia[9](2,5)thiophenophane-S2,S3]copper(I),[CuL2]+1
Preparation of the thiophenophane C10H14S4, (L), and syntheses of its copper(I) complex [CuL2]ClO4 or [CuL2]BF4 are described. The 13C and 1H nmr spectra of L and the ir spectra (4000–200 cm−1) of [CuL2]ClO4 and [CuL2]BF4 are reported. The molecular structures of L and [CuL2]ClO4 have been determined. For L: space group P21/a, a = 7.9347(2) Å, b = 18.7479(3) Å, c = 8.8596(2) Å, β = 108.446(2)°, Z = 4, Rf = 0.048, and Rw = 0.034. For [CuL2]ClO4: space group P21/c, a = 9.4363(1) Å, b = 18.2768(3) Å, c = 16.2157(3) Å, β = 96.520(2)°, Z = 4, Rf = 0.056, and Rw = 0.037. The Cu(I) complex has distorted tetrahedral coordination geometry; its perchlorate anion is non-coordinating and disordered. The Cu—S bond lengths lie in the range 2.301–2.392 Å and the S—Cu—S angles in the range 92.43—150.26°. Cyclic voltammetry of [CuL2]ClO4 (10−3 mol/L in dimethylsulfoxide, 0.1 mol/L Et4NClO4, glassy carbon working electrode, platinum counter electrode, aqueous saturated calomel reference electrode against which the ferrocenium/ferrocene potential under similar conditions was 400 mV) shows a quasi-reversible oxidation (E1/2 = 0.150 V, ΔEp = 170 mV at 50 mV/s). Thiophene's effect as a sub-unit in a small macrocycle upon properties of the latter is discussed.