Unveiling the Latent Reactivity of Cp* Ligands (C5Me5-) toward Carbon Nucleophiles on an Iridium Complex.

The divergent reactivity of the cationic iridium complex [(η5-C5Me5)IrCl(PMe2ArDipp2)]+ (ArDipp2 = C6H3-2,6-(C6H3-2,6-iPr2)2) toward organolithium and Grignard reagents is described. The noninnocent behavior of the Cp* ligand, a robust spectator in the majority of stoichiometric and catalytic reactions, was manifested by its unforeseen electrophilic character toward organolithium reagents LiMe, LiEt, and LinBu. In these unconventional transformations, the metal center is only indirectly involved by means of the Ir(III)/Ir(I) redox cycle. In the presence of less nucleophilic organolithium reagents, the Cp* ligand also exhibits noninnocent behavior undergoing facile deprotonation, which is also concomitant with the reduction of the metal center. In turn, the weaker alkylating agents EtMgBr and MeMgBr effectively achieve the alkylation of the metal center. These reactive iridium(III) alkyls partake in subsequent reactions: while the ethyl complex undergoes ß-H elimination, the methyl derivative releases methane by a remote C-H bond activation. Computational studies, including the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM), support that the preferential activation of the non-benzylic C-H bonds takes place via sigma-bond metathesis.

Using PyMOL to Understand Why COVID-19 Vaccines Save Lives.

Chemistry and biochemistry instructors must help students to develop the ability to visualize and manipulate 3D biomolecular structures and critically analyze them and their relationship to their functions. To do this, representative systems must be strategically selected to stimulate students' motivation. Since the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic caused by a new beta-coronavirus, called SARS-CoV-2 in early 2020, huge efforts are being taken by researchers to learn in depth how this virus works and a lot of scientific results are continuously reported. Many of them focus on the structural features of the viral spike glycoprotein and their relation with the vaccine development. This paper presents a series of workouts that deep into the structural characteristics of the spike protein S SARS-CoV-2 virus and the structural features involved in its infection process, using free online resources such as the PDB and the computer program PyMOL. This type of activity is intended to engage structural biology students in examining these macromolecules and others to help establish procedures for controlling COVID-19 and other future infectious diseases. PyMOL session files and student activities are provided.

Coordination of LiH Molecules to Mo≣Mo Bonds: Experimental and Computational Studies on Mo2LiH2, Mo2Li2H4, and Mo6Li9H18 Clusters.

The reactions of LiAlH4 as the source of LiH with complexes that contain (H)Mo≣Mo and (H)Mo≣Mo(H) cores stabilized by the coordination of bulky AdDipp2 ligands result in the respective coordination of one and two molecules of (thf)LiH, with the generation of complexes exhibiting one and two HLi(thf)H ligands extending across the Mo≣Mo bond (AdDipp2 = HC(NDipp)2; Dipp = 2,6-iPr2C6H3; thf = tetrahydrofuran, C4H8O). A theoretical study reveals the formation of Mo-H-Li three-center-two-electron bonds, supplemented by the coordination of the Mo≣Mo bond to the Li ion. Attempts to construct a [Mo2{HLi(thf)H}3(AdDipp2)] molecular architecture led to spontaneous trimerization and the formation of a chiral, hydride-rich Mo6Li9H18 supramolecular organization that is robust enough to withstand the substitution of lithium-solvating molecules of tetrahydrofuran by pyridine or 4-dimethylaminopyridine.

Ni(II) Precatalysts Enable Thioetherification of (Hetero)Aryl Halides and Tosylates and Tandem C-S/C-N Couplings.

Ni-catalyzed C-S cross-coupling reactions have received less attention compared with other C-heteroatom couplings. Most reported examples comprise the thioetherification of most reactive aryl iodides with aromatic thiols. The use of C-O electrophiles in this context is almost uncharted. Here, we describe that preformed Ni(II) precatalysts of the type NiCl(allyl)(PMe2 Ar') (Ar'=terphenyl group) efficiently couple a wide range of (hetero)aryl halides, including challenging aryl chlorides, with a variety of aromatic and aliphatic thiols. Aryl and alkenyl tosylates are also well tolerated, demonstrating, for the first time, to be competent electrophilic partners in Ni-catalyzed C-S bond formation. The chemoselective functionalization of the C-I bond in the presence of a C-Cl bond allows for designing site-selective tandem C-S/C-N couplings. The formation of the two C-heteroatom bonds takes place in a single operation and represents a rare example of dual electrophile/nucleophile chemoselective process.

Experimental and Computational Studies on Quadruply Bonded Dimolybdenum Complexes with Terminal and Bridging Hydride Ligands.

This contribution focuses on complex [Mo2 (H)2 (µ-AdDipp2 )2 ] (1) and tetrahydrofuran and pyridine adducts [Mo2 (H)2 (µ-AdDipp2 )2 (L)2 ] (1⋅thf and 1⋅py), which contain a trans-(H)Mo≣Mo(H) core (AdDipp2 =HC(NDipp2 )2 ; Dipp=2,6-iPr2 C6 H3 ). Computational studies provide insights into the coordination and electronic characteristics of the central trans-Mo2 H2 unit of 1, with four-coordinate, fourteen-electron Mo atoms and ϵ-agostic interactions with Dipp methyl groups. Small size C- and N-donors give rise to related complexes 1⋅L but only one molecule of P-donors, for example, PMe3 , can bind to 1, causing one of the hydrides to form a three-centered, two-electron (3c-2e) Mo-H→Mo bond (2⋅PMe3 ). A DFT analysis of the terminal and bridging hydride coordination to the Mo≣Mo bond is also reported, along with reactivity studies of the Mo-H bonds of these complexes. Reactions investigated include oxidation of 1⋅thf by silver triflimidate, AgNTf2 , to afford a monohydride [Mo2 (µ-H)(µ-NTf2 )(µ-AdDipp2 )2 ] (4), with an O,O'-bridging triflimidate ligand.

Dialkylterphenyl Phosphine-Based Palladium Precatalysts for Efficient Aryl Amination of N-Nucleophiles.

A series of 2-aminobiphenyl palladacycles supported by dialkylterphenyl phosphines, PR2 Ar' (R=Me, Et, iPr, Cyp (cyclopentyl), Ar'=ArDipp2 , ArXyl2f , Dipp (2,6-C6H3-(2,6-C6H3-(CHMe2)2)2), Xyl=xylyl) have been prepared and structurally characterized. Neutral palladacycles were obtained with less bulky terphenyl phosphines (i.e., Me and Et substituents) whereas the largest phosphines provided cationic palladacycles in which the phosphines adopted a bidentate hemilabile k1 -P,η1 -Carene coordination mode. The influence of the ligand structure on the catalytic performance of these Pd precatalysts was evaluated in aryl amination reactions. Cationic complexes bearing the phosphines PiPr2 ArXyl2 and PCyp2 ArXyl2 were the most active of the series. These precatalysts have demonstrated a high versatility and efficiency in the coupling of a variety of nitrogen nucleophiles, including secondary amines, alkyl amines, anilines, and indoles, with electronically deactivated and ortho-substituted aryl chlorides at low catalyst loadings (0.25-0.75 mol % Pd) and without excess ligand.

Evidence for Genuine Bimetallic Frustrated Lewis Pair Activation of Dihydrogen with Gold(I)/Platinum(0) Systems.

Invited for the cover of this issue is the group of Joaquín López-Serrano and Jesús Campos at the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and the University of Sevilla. The image depicts the importance of balancing the degree of frustration/interaction in the splitting of H2 by AuI /Pt0 . Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/chem.201905793.

Evidence for Genuine Bimetallic Frustrated Lewis Pair Activation of Dihydrogen with Gold(I)/Platinum(0) Systems.

A joint experimental/computational effort to elucidate the mechanism of dihydrogen activation by a gold(I)/platinum(0) metal-only frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) is described herein. The drastic effects on H2 activation derived from subtle ligand modifications have also been investigated. The importance of the balance between bimetallic adduct formation and complete frustration has been interrogated, providing for the first time evidence for genuine metal-only FLP reactivity in solution. The origin of a strong inverse kinetic isotopic effect has also been clarified, offering further support for the proposed bimetallic FLP-type cleavage of dihydrogen.

Dinuclear Cu(I) Halides with Terphenyl Phosphines: Synthesis, Photophysical Studies, and Catalytic Applications in CuAAC Reactions.

Several dinuclear terphenyl phosphine copper(I) halide complexes of composition [CuX(PR2Ar')]2 (X = Cl, Br, I; R = hydrocarbyl, Ar' = 2,6-diarylterphenyl radical), 1-5, have been isolated from the reaction of CuX with 1 equiv of the phosphine ligand. Most of them have been characterized by X-ray diffraction studies in the solid state, thus allowing comparative discussions of different structural parameters, namely, Cu···Cu and Cu···Aryl separations, conformations adopted by coordinated phosphines, and planarity of the Cu2X2 cores. Centrosymmetric complexes [CuI(PMe2ArXyl2)]2, 1c, and [CuI(PEt2ArMes2)]2, 3c, despite their similar structures, show very distinct photoluminescence (PL) in powder form at room temperature. The photophysical behavior of these compounds in liquid solution, solid-solid Zeonex solution and powder samples at room temperature and 77 K have been investigated and supported by DFT calculation. Identification of vibronic coupling modes, done by group theory calculations and the technique of projection operators, shows that the manifestation of these modes is conditioned by crystal packing. Complexes [CuI(PMe2ArXyl2)]2, 1c, and [CuI(PEt2ArMes2)]2, 3c, display remarkable activity in copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition reactions involving preformed and in situ-made azides. Reactions are performed in H2O, under aerobic conditions, with low catalyst loadings and tolerate the use of iodoalkynes as substrates.

A Versatile Approach to Access Trimetallic Complexes Based on Trisphosphinite Ligands.

A straightforward method for the preparation of trisphosphinite ligands in one step, using only commercially available reagents (1,1,1-tris(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethane and chlorophosphines) is described. We have made use of this approach to prepare a small family of four trisphosphinite ligands of formula [CH3C{(C6H4OR2)3], where R stands for Ph (1a), Xyl (1b, Xyl = 2,6-Me2-C6H3), iPr (1c), and Cy (1d). These polyfunctional phosphinites allowed us to investigate their coordination chemistry towards a range of late transition metal precursors. As such, we report here the isolation and full characterization of a number of Au(I), Ag(I), Cu(I), Ir(III), Rh(III) and Ru(II) homotrimetallic complexes, including the structural characterization by X-ray diffraction studies of six of these compounds. We have observed that the flexibility of these trisphosphinites enables a variety of conformations for the different trimetallic species.

Synthesis, Structure and Nickel Carbonyl Complexes of Dialkylterphenyl Phosphines.

The experimental and computational characterization of a series of dialkylterphenyl phosphines, PR2 Ar' is described. The new P-donors comprise five compounds of general formula PR2 Ar Dtbp 2 (R=Me, Et, iPr, c-C5 H9 and c-C6 H11 ); Ar Dtbp 2 = 2,6-C6 H3 -(3,5-C6 H3 -(CMe3 )2 )2 ), and another five PR2 Ar' phosphines containing the bulky alkyl groups iPr, c-C5 H9 or c-C6 H11 , in combination with Ar'=Ar Xyl 2 , Ar Xyl ' 2 , or Ar Ph 2 (L1-L10). Steric and electronic parameters have been determined computationally and from IR and X-ray data obtained for the phosphines and for some derivatives, including tricarbonyl and dicarbonyl nickel complexes, Ni(CO)3 (PR2 Ar') and Ni(CO)2 (PR2 Ar'). In the solid state, the free phosphines PR2 Ar' adopt one of the three possible structures formally related by rotation around the Cipso -P bond. Details on their relative energies and on the influence of the free phosphine structure on its coordination chemistry towards Ni(CO)n (n = 2, 3) fragments has been obtained by experimental and computational methods.

An Unsaturated Four-Coordinate Dimethyl Dimolybdenum Complex with a Molybdenum-Molybdenum Quadruple Bond.

We describe the synthesis and the molecular and electronic structures of the complex [Mo2 Me2 {µ-HC(NDipp)2 }2 ] (2; Dipp=2,6-iPr2 C6 H3 ), which contains a dimetallic core with an Mo-Mo quadruple bond and features uncommon four-coordinate geometry and has a fourteen-electron count for each molybdenum atom. The coordination polyhedron approaches a square pyramid, with one of the molybdenum atoms nearly co-planar with the basal square plane, in which the trans coordination position with respect to the Mo-Me bond is vacant. The other three sites are occupied by two trans nitrogen atoms of different amidinate ligands and the methyl group. The second Mo atom occupies the apex of the pyramid and forms an Mo-Mo bond of length 2.080(1) Å, consistent with a quadruple bond. Compound 2 reacts with tetrahydrofuran (THF) and trimethylphosphine to yield the mono-adducts [Mo2 Me(µ-Me){µ-HC(NDipp)2 }2 (L)] (3⋅THF and 3⋅PMe3 , respectively) with one terminal and one bridging methyl group. In contrast, 4-dimethylaminopyridine (dmap) forms the bis-adduct [Mo2 Me2 {µ-HC(NDipp)2 }2 (dmap)2 ] (4), with terminally coordinated methyl groups. Hydrogenolysis of complex 2 leads to the bis(hydride) [Mo2 H2 {µ-HC(NDipp)2 }2 (thf)2 ] (5⋅THF) with elimination of CH4 . Computational, kinetic, and mechanistic studies, which included the use of D2 and of complex 2 labelled with 13 C (99 %) at the Mo-CH3 sites, supported the intermediacy of a methyl-hydride reactive species. A computational DFT analysis of the terminal and bridging coordination of the methyl groups to the Mo≣Mo core is also reported.

A Cationic Unsaturated Platinum(II) Complex that Promotes the Tautomerization of Acetylene to Vinylidene.

Complex [PtMe2 (PMe2 ArDipp2 )] (1), which contains a tethered terphenyl phosphine (ArDipp2 =2,6-(2,6-i Pr2 C6 H3 )2 C6 H3 ), reacts with [H(Et2 O)2 ]BArF (BArF- =B[3,5-(CF3 )2 C6 H3 ]4- ) to give the solvent (S) complex [PtMe(S)(PMe2 ArDipp2 )]+ (2⋅S). Although the solvent molecule is easily displaced by a Lewis base (e.g., CO or C2 H4 ) to afford the corresponding adducts, treatment of 2⋅S with C2 H2 yielded instead the allyl complex [Pt(η3 -C3 H5 )(PMe2 ArDipp2 )]+ (6) via the alkyne intermediate [PtMe(η2 -C2 H2 )(PMe2 ArDipp2 )]+ (5). Deuteration experiments with C2 D2 , and kinetic and theoretical investigations demonstrated that the conversion of 5 into 6 involves a PtII -promoted HC≡CH to :C=CH2 tautomerization in preference over acetylene migratory insertion into the Pt-Me bond.

The C-terminal extension of bacterial flavodoxin-reductases: involvement in the hydride transfer mechanism from the coenzyme.

To study the role of the mobile C-terminal extension present in bacterial class of plant type NADP(H):ferredoxin reductases during catalysis, we generated a series of mutants of the Rhodobacter capsulatus enzyme (RcFPR). Deletion of the six C-terminal amino acids beyond alanine 266 was combined with the replacement A266Y, emulating the structure present in plastidic versions of this flavoenzyme. Analysis of absorbance and fluorescence spectra suggests that deletion does not modify the general geometry of FAD itself, but increases exposure of the flavin to the solvent, prevents a productive geometry of FAD:NADP(H) complex and decreases the protein thermal stability. Although the replacement A266Y partially coats the isoalloxazine from solvent and slightly restores protein stability, this single change does not allow formation of active charge-transfer complexes commonly present in the wild-type FPR, probably due to restraints of C-terminus pliability. A proton exchange process is deduced from ITC measurements during coenzyme binding. All studied RcFPR variants display higher affinity for NADP(+) than wild-type, evidencing the contribution of the C-terminus in tempering a non-productive strong (rigid) interaction with the coenzyme. The decreased catalytic rate parameters confirm that the hydride transfer from NADPH to the flavin ring is considerably hampered in the mutants. Although the involvement of the C-terminal extension from bacterial FPRs in stabilizing overall folding and bent-FAD geometry has been stated, the most relevant contributions to catalysis are modulation of coenzyme entrance and affinity, promotion of the optimal geometry of an active complex and supply of a proton acceptor acting during coenzyme binding.

Lithium Di- and trimethyl dimolybdenum(II) complexes with Mo-Mo quadruple bonds and bridging methyl groups.

New dimolybdenum complexes of composition [Mo2{µ-Me}2Li(S)}(µ-X)(µ-N^N)2] (3a-3c), where S = THF or Et2O and N^N represents a bidentate aminopyridinate or amidinate ligand that bridges the quadruply bonded molybdenum atoms, were prepared from the reaction of the appropriate [Mo2{µ-O2CMe}2(µ-N^N)2] precursors and LiMe. For complex 3a, X = MeCO2, while in 3b and 3c, X = Me. Solution NMR studies in C6D6 solvent support formulation of the complexes as contact ion pairs with weak agostic Mo-CH3···Li interactions, which were also evidenced by X-ray crystallography in the solid-state structures of the molecules of 3a and 3b. Samples of 3c enriched in (13)C (99%) at the metal-bonded methyl sites were also prepared and investigated by NMR spectroscopy employing C6D6 and THF-d8 solvents. Crystallization of 3c from toluene:tetrahydrofuran mixtures provided single crystals of the solvent separated ion pair complex [Li(THF)4] [Mo2(Me)2(µ-Me){µ-HC(NDipp)2}2] (4c), where Dipp stands for 2,6-iPr2C6H3. A computational analysis of the Mo2(µ-Me)2Li core of complexes 3a and 3b has been developed, which is consistent with a small but non-negligible electron-density sharing between the C and Li atoms of the mainly ionic CH3···Li interactions.

Reactivity of cationic agostic and carbene structures derived from platinum(II) metallacycles.

This paper describes the formation of new platinacyclic complexes derived from the phosphine ligands PiPr2 Xyl, PMeXyl2 , and PMe2 Ar Xyl 2 (Xyl=2,6-Me2 C6 H3 and Ar Xyl 2=2,6-(2,6-Me2 C6 H3 )2 -C6 H3 ) as well as reactivity studies of the trans-[Pt(C^P)2 ] bis-metallacyclic complex 1 a derived from PiPr2 Xyl. Protonation of compound 1 a with [H(OEt2 )2 ][BArF ] (BArF =B[3,5-(CF3 )2 C6 H3 ]4 ) forms a cationic δ-agostic structure 4 a, whereas α-hydride abstraction employing [Ph3 C][PF6 ] produces a cationic platinum carbene trans-[Pt{PiPr2 (2,6-CH(Me)C6 H3 }{PiPr2 (2,6-CH2 (Me)C6 H3 }][PF6 ] (8). Compounds 4 a and 8 react with H2 to yield the same 1:3 equilibrium mixture of 4 a and trans-[PtH(PiPr2 Xyl)2 ][BArF ] (6), in which one of the phosphine ligands participates in a δ-agostic interaction. DFT calculations reveal that H2 activation by 8 occurs at the highly electrophilic alkylidene terminus with no participation of the metal. The two compounds 4 a and 8 experience C-C coupling reactions of a different nature. Thus, 4 a gives rise to complex trans-[PtH{(E)-1,2-bis(2-(PiPr2 )-3-MeC6 H3 )CHCH}] (7) that contains a tridentate diphosphine-alkene ligand, through agostic CH oxidative cleavage and C-C reductive coupling steps, whereas the C-C coupling reaction in 8 involves classical migratory insertion of its [PtCH] and [PtCH2 ] bonds promoted by platinum coordination of CO or CNXyl. The mechanisms of the CC bond-forming reactions have also been investigated by computational methods.

Experimental and computational studies of the molybdenum-flanking arene interaction in quadruply bonded dimolybdenum complexes with terphenyl ligands.

To clarify the nature of the Mo-Carene interaction in terphenyl complexes with quadruple Mo-Mo bonds, ether adducts of composition [Mo2 (Ar')(I)(O2 CR)2 (OEt2)] have been prepared and characterized (Ar'=Ar(Xyl) 2 , R=Me; Ar'=ArMes2, R=Me; Ar'=Ar(Xyl2), R=CF3) (Mes=mesityl; Xyl=2,6-Me2 C6 H3, from now on xylyl) and their reactivity toward different neutral Lewis bases investigated. PMe3 , P(OMe)3 and PiPr3 were chosen as P-donors and the reactivity studies complemented with the use of the C-donors CNXyl and CN2 C2 Me4 (1,3,4,5-tetramethylimidazol-2-ylidene). New compounds of general formula [Mo2 (Ar')(I)(O2 CR)2 (L)] were obtained, except for the imidazol-2-ylidene ligand that yielded a salt-like compound of composition [Mo2 (Ar(Xyl2))(O2 CMe)2 (CN2 C2 Me4)2]I. The Mo-Carene interaction in these complexes has been analyzed with the aid of X-ray data and computational studies. This interaction compensates the coordinative and electronic unsaturation of one of the Mo atoms in the above complexes, but it seems to be weak in terms of sharing of electron density between the Mo and Carene atoms and appears to have no appreciable effect in the length of the Mo-Mo, Mo-X, and Mo-L bonds present in these molecules.

Terphenyl complexes of molybdenum and tungsten with quadruple metal-metal bonds and bridging carboxylate ligands.

Mono- and bis-terphenyl complexes of molybdenum and tungsten with general composition M2(Ar')(O2CR)3 and M2(Ar')2(O2CR)2, respectively (Ar' = terphenyl ligand), that contain carboxylate groups bridging the quadruply bonded metal atoms, have been prepared and structurally characterized. The new compounds stem from the reactions of the dimetal tetracarboxylates, M2(O2CR)4 (M = Mo, R = H, Me, CF3; M = W, R = CF3) with the lithium salts of the appropriate terphenyl groups (Ar' = Ar(Xyl2), Ar(Mes2), Ar(Dipp2), and Ar(Trip2)). Substitution of one bidentate carboxylate by a monodentate terphenyl forms a M-C σ bond and creates a coordination unsaturation at the other metal atom. Hence in M2(Ar')2(O2CR)2 complexes the two metal atoms have formally a low coordination number and an also low electron count. However, the unsaturation seems to be compensated by a weak M-C(arene) bonding interaction that implicates one of the aryl substituents of the terphenyl central aryl ring, as revealed by X-ray studies performed with some of these complexes and by theoretical calculations.

Experimental and theoretical studies on arene-bridged metal-metal-bonded dimolybdenum complexes.

The bis(hydride) dimolybdenum complex, [Mo2(H)2{HC(N-2,6-iPr2C6H3)2}2(thf)2], 2, which possesses a quadruply bonded Mo2(II) core, undergoes light-induced (365 nm) reductive elimination of H2 and arene coordination in benzene and toluene solutions, with formation of the Mo(I)2 complexes [Mo2{HC(N-2,6-iPr2C6H3)2}2(arene)], 3⋅C6H6 and 3⋅C6H5Me, respectively. The analogous C6H5OMe, p-C6H4Me2, C6H5F, and p-C6H4F2 derivatives have also been prepared by thermal or photochemical methods, which nevertheless employ different Mo2 complex precursors. X-ray crystallography and solution NMR studies demonstrate that the molecule of the arene bridges the molybdenum atoms of the Mo(I)2 core, coordinating to each in an η(2) fashion. In solution, the arene rotates fast on the NMR timescale around the Mo2-arene axis. For the substituted aromatic hydrocarbons, the NMR data are consistent with the existence of a major rotamer in which the metal atoms are coordinated to the more electron-rich C-C bonds.

Synthesis, structural characterization, reactivity, and catalytic properties of copper(I) complexes with a series of tetradentate tripodal tris(pyrazolylmethyl)amine ligands.

Novel tris(pyrazolylmethyl)amine ligands Tpa(Me3), Tpa*(,Br), and Tpa(Br3) have been synthesized and structurally characterized. The coordination chemistries of these three new tetradentate tripodal ligands and the already known Tpa and Tpa* have been explored using different copper(I) salts as starting materials. Cationic copper(I) complexes [Tpa(x)Cu]PF6 (1-4) have been isolated from the reaction of [Cu(NCMe)4]PF6 and 1 equiv of the ligand. Complexes 2 (Tpa(x) = Tpa*) and 3 (Tpa(x) = Tpa(Me3)) have been characterized by X-ray studies. The former is a 1D helical coordination polymer, and the latter is a tetranuclear helicate. In both structures, the Tpa(x) ligand adopts a µ(2):κ(2):κ(1)-coordination mode. However, in solution, all of the four complexes form fluxional species. When CuI is used as the copper(I) source, neutral compounds 5-8 have been obtained. Complexes 6-8 exhibit a 1:1 metal-to-ligand ratio, whereas 5 presents 2:1 stoichiometry. Its solid-state structure has been determined by X-ray diffraction, revealing its 3D polymeric nature. The polymer is composed by the assembly of [Tpa2Cu4I4] units, in which Cu4I4 presents a step-stair structure. The Tpa ligands bridge the Cu4I4 clusters, adopting also a µ(2):κ(2):κ(1)-coordination mode. As observed for the cationic derivatives, the NMR spectra of 5-8 show the equivalence of the three pyrazolyl arms of the ligands in these complexes. The reactivities of cationic copper(I) derivatives 1-4 with PPh3 and CO have been explored. In all cases, 1:1 adducts [Tpa(x)CuL]PF6 [L = PPh3 (9-11), CO (12-15)] have been isolated. The crystal structure of [Tpa*Cu(PPh3)]PF6 (9) has been obtained, showing that the coordination geometry around copper(I) is trigonal-pyramidal with the apical position occupied by the tertiary amine N atom. The Tpa* ligand binds the Cu center to three of its four N atoms, with one pyrazolyl arm remaining uncoordinated. In solution, the carbonyl adducts 13-15 exist as a mixture of two isomers; the four- and five-coordinate species can be distinguished by means of their IR νCO stretching bands. Finally, the catalytic activities of complexes 1-4 have been demonstrated in carbene- and nitrene-transfer reactions.