Structural properties of a dimeric phenylcyanamidocopper(I) complex, [{Cu(PPh3)2(C6H5 NCN)}2]

The X-ray crystal structure determination of bis[mu-(phenylcyanamido) bis( triphenylphosphine) copper( I)], [{Cu(PPh3)(2)(C6H5NCN)}(2)], (1) is reported. The complex has a centrosymmetric dimeric structure with the phenylcyanamide ligands bridging the copper atoms in a mu -1,3-fashion. The structure is compared with that of the 4-methylphenylcyanamido complex, [{Cu(PPh3)(2)(4-MeC6H4NCN)}(2)] (2), and the differences observed in the Cu-P bond lengths compared with changes in the solid state P-31 cross-polarization magic-angle spinning (CPMAS) spectra of the two complexes.