Structural comparison of (CuICH3CN4·dibenzo-18-crown-6 (I) and (CuICH3CN)x (II) fluorescent copper(I) materials

The single crystal X-ray structures of (CuICH₃CN₄·dibenzo-18-crown-6 (I) and (CuICH₃CN) (II) have been determined at room temperature (I) C₂₈H₃₆Cu₄I₄N₄o₆, monoclinic space group P2₁/n, a = 10.116(4), b = 18.092(8), c = 22.211(9) Å, β = 98.66(3)°, Z = 4; (II) C₂H₃CuIN, orthorhombic pBN2₁, a = 13.618(8), b =8.742(2), c = 4.298(2), Z = 4]. (I) exists as a distorted cube with copper and iodine at alternate corners, the fourth coordination site copper occupied by an acetonitrile molecule coordinated through nitrogen. The cluster contains no crystallographic symmetry element and CuCu distances average 2.770(5) Å. The dibenzo-18-crown-6 displays only second sphere type interactions with cluster. (II) displays a pleated double chain type structure with distorted rectangles of alternating Cu and I atoms sharing opposite edges in infinite array. Copper displays tetrahedral geometry by coordination to three iodine atoms and a nitrogen bound acetonitrile molecule.