10.1021/ic3021854
The study focuses on the synthesis and characterization of copper(I) chalcogenide clusters stabilized by the redox-active diphosphine ligand 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (dppf). The researchers used copper(I) acetate coordination complex (dppf)CuOAc (5) and reacted it with 0.5 equivalents of E(SiMe3)2 (where E = S, Se, Te) to prepare the clusters [Cu12(μ4-S)6(μ-dppf)4] (1), [Cu8(μ4-Se)4(μ-dppf)3] (2), [Cu4(μ4-Te)(μ4-η2-Te2)(μ-dppf)2] (3), and [Cu12(μ5-Te)4(μ8-η2-Te2)2(μ-dppf)4] (4). These chalcogenide clusters serve to explore the utility of the bidentate phosphine-based ferrocene ligand for the surface passivation of copper chalcogen frameworks, with the dppf ligands playing a crucial role in stabilizing the {Cu2xEx} cores and protecting the clusters from decomposition or further condensation into bulk solids. The study aimed to understand the redox properties and coordination abilities of these clusters, which could have implications for the development of functional materials.