Mutual stabilization between imine ligands and copper(1) ions in aqueous solution

Chemical symbiosis enables the quantitative formation of Cu I-imine complexes from the mixture of Schiff base precursors with CuII and Cu0 in water (see scheme), even though neither CuI nor imines are ordinarily stable in aqueous solution. The imine ligands undergo selective exchange with free amines, and the complex forms readily in the presence of a dynamic combinatorial library of nonchelating aldehydes.