Synthesis, Structure, and Reactivity of Copper(I) Proazaphosphatrane Complexes

Copper­(I) complexes of isobutyl- (i‑BuL) and isopropyl-substituted (i‑PrL) proazaphosphatranes have been synthesized. Structural and computational studies of a series of monomeric complexes i‑BuLCuX (X = Cl, Br, I) and dimeric [i‑PrLCuCl]2 provide insight into the transannulation within and steric properties of the proazaphosphatrane ligand. These halide complexes are competent precatalysts in a model borylation reaction, and the silylamido complex i‑BuLCuN­(TMS)2 catalyzes hydrosilylation of benzaldehyde under mild conditions.