New catalysts for the oxidative polymerization of 2,6-dimethylphenol, 2. Copper complexes containing the dicyanoethenedithiolatocuprate structure as the ligand

It was found that the reaction of 1,2-dicyano-1,2-ethenedithiolate, resp. of bis(1,2-dicyano-1,2-ethenedithiolato)cuprate(2-), with Cu²⁺ does not lead to copper bis(1,2-dicyano-1,2-ethenedithiolato)cuprate(2-) dihydrate ( 1a ) as described in the literature but to a reaction product which has a complex structure containing mainly Cu⁺. This compound as well as complexes with the same ligand, but with Cu⁺, Cu²⁺ or Cu³⁺ as the central atom, were synthesized and tested with and without added cuprous chloride as catalysts for the oxidative polymerization of 2,6-dimethylphenol. Included in this investigation were some copper complexes with the isomeric ligand 2,2-dicyano-1,1-ethenedithiolate.