Copper(II) methoxide: direct solventothermal synthesis and X-ray crystal structure

Copper methoxide has been prepared under fairly mild solventothermal conditions by direct reaction of copper(II) acetate monohydrate and methanol. The product has been structurally characterized for the first time by single crystal X-ray diffraction and found to possess a novel infinite one-dimensional chain structure in which copper atoms in distorted square planar coordination environments are linked by bridging methoxide ligands. The conversion of copper acetate to copper methoxide is essentially quantitative. The major byproduct of the synthesis is methyl acetate.

A new, efficient and very simple synthesis of copper(II) methoxide employing fairly mild solventothermal conditions and the direct reaction of copper(II) acetate monohydrate with methanol has been discovered. The dark purple crystalline product has been found to possess a novel infinite one-dimensional chain structure.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide