Cubane tetrameric complexes of copper(I) chloride and bromide with triphenyl phosphite.

The crystal structures of tetra-mu 3-chloro-tetrakis[(triphenyl phosphite-P)copper(I)], [Cu4Cl4(C18H15O3P)4], and tetra-mu 3-bromo-tetrakis [(triphenyl phosphite-P)-copper(I)], [Cu4Br4(C18H15O3P)4], are described. Both have distorted 'cubane' Cu4X4 cores. Distortion of the cubane structure is reflected in X-Cu-X angles > 90 degrees and Cu-X-Cu angles < 90 degrees, and is more pronounced in the bromide complex.