Structural Characterization of the [CuOR]2+ Core

Formal Cu­(III) complexes bearing an oxygen-based auxiliary ligand ([CuOR]2+, R = H or CH2CF3) were stabilized by modulating the donor character of supporting ligand LY (LY = 4-Y, N,N′-bis­(2,6-di­iso­propyl­phenyl)-2,6-pyridine­di­carbox­amide, Y = H or OMe) and/or the basicity of the auxiliary ligand, enabling the first characterization of these typically highly reactive cores by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. Enhanced lifetimes in solution and slowed rates of PCET with a phenol substrate were observed. NMR spectra corroborate the S = 0 ground states of the complexes, and X-ray structures reveal shortened Cu–ligand bond distances that match well with theory.