Heterolytic Cleavage of the C−C Bond of Acetonitrile with Simple Monomeric CuII Complexes: Melding Old Copper Chemistry with New Reactivity

Acetonitrile might not be an “innocent” solvent after all: The monomeric CuII complex [Cu(dmppy)(en)] (see structure) readily cleaves the C−C bond of acetonitrile under ambient conditions. Previously, heterolytic cleavage of the C−C bond of acetonitrile had only been achieved by phosphane complexes of metals in low oxidation states. dmppyH2=N,N′-dimethylpyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide, en=ethylenediamine.