Molecular dicopper(I) oxalate stabilized by two N-heterocyclic carbenes: A potential precursor for copper deposition

The σ-mesityl NHC-complex (SIMes)CuMes, obtained from mesitylcopper and the free carbene ligand, reacts with oxalic acid to yield the new copper(I) oxalato complex [(SIMes)Cu]2(C2O4), the first example of a molecular dicopper(I) oxalate stabilized by two N-heterocyclic carbene capping ligands. Its thermal decomposition behavior was investigated by TGA/MS and shown to yield elemental copper.101