A Three‐Coordinate Copper(II) Amide from Reductive Cleavage of a Nitrosamine

A NO-velty: A copper(I) β-diketiminate activates the nitrosamine Ph2NNO to give a rare, three-coordinate copper(II) amide, [(Me2NN)CuNPh2]. Reaction of this amide with NOgas returns Ph2NNO as well as a mixed-valence species with NO-functionalized β-diketiminate ligands (see scheme; Cu light blue, N dark blue, O red). Thus, both the cleavage and formation of R2NNO bonds may take place at a common copper center.