Phosphine stabilized copper(i) complexes of dithiocarbamates and xanthates and their decomposition pathways

Phosphine stabilized compounds [Cu(i)(S2CNEt2)PR 3]2 (1-3) (R = OMe, Me and Et, respectively) and [Cu(i)(S2COEt)PR3]2 (4, 5), (R = OMe, and Me, respectively) have been prepared and characterised. The structures of compounds (1-3) were determined by X-ray single crystallography. The structures of all three compounds are based on centro-symmetric dimers which crystallise in the monoclinic space group P21/n with two [Cu(i)(S2CNEt 2)PR3]2 molecules per unit cell. The thermal decomposition of selected complexes was investigated by thermogravimetric, differential scanning calorimetry and gas chromatography with mass spectroscopy to understand the possible decomposition pathways. © 2011 The Royal Society of Chemistry and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique.