Phenylamino derivatives of tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine: hydrogen-bonded peroxodicopper complexes.

A series of copper complexes bearing new 6-substituted tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine ligands (LR) appended with NH(p-R-C6H4) groups (R = H, CF3, OMe) were prepared. These ligands are electronically tunable (ΔE1/2 = 160 mV) and CuI(LR)+ complexes react with oxygen to form hydrogen bonded (trans-1,2-peroxo)dicopper species.