A Fluxional Cu8H6 Cluster Supported by Bis(diphenylphosphino)methane and its Facile Reaction with CO2.

A copper hydride cluster [Cu8(μ-H)6(μ-dppm)5](PF6)2 (dppm=bis(diphenylphosphino)methane) was prepared from reaction of [CuH(PPh3)]6 with dppm in the presence of [Cu(CH3CN)4]PF6 and exhibited fluxional behaviors in solution where the hydrides and the phosphines are scrambling around the trans-bicapped octahedral Cu8 framework. The Cu8H6 complex showed facile reactivity with CO2 (1 atm, RT) to afford a tricopper complex, [Cu3(μ-H)(μ-O2CH)(μ-dppm)3]PF6, which could be developed to unprecedented hydrosilylation of CO2 catalyzed by multinuclear CuH species under mild conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]