Copper(I) hydroxide

Chemical compound From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Copper(I) hydroxide is the inorganic compound with the chemical formula of CuOH. Little evidence exists for its existence. A similar situation applies to the monohydroxides of gold(I) and silver(I). Solid CuOH has been claimed however as an unstable yellow-red solid.[1] The topic has been the subject of theoretical analysis.[2] Copper(I) hydroxide would also be expected to easily oxidise to copper(II) hydroxide:

4CuOH + 2 H2O + O2 → 4Cu(OH)2
Quick facts Names, Identifiers ...
Copper(I) hydroxide
Names
Other names
Cuprous hydroxide; Copper monohydroxide
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
  • InChI=1S/Cu.H2O/h;1H2/q+1;/p-1
    Key: ZMHWUUMELDFBCZ-UHFFFAOYSA-M
  • [OH-].[Cu+]
Properties
CuOH
Molar mass 80.55 g/mol
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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It would also be expected to rapidly dehydrate:

2CuOH → Cu2O + H2O

Solid CuOH would be of interest as a possible intermediate in the formation of copper(I) oxide (Cu2O), which has diverse applications, e.g. in solar cells.[3][4]

Solid CuOH

Theoretical calculations predict that CuOH would be stable. Specifically, the dissociation of Cu(OH)2− leading to CuOH is expected to release 62 ± 3 kcal/mol.[3]

Cu(OH)−2 → CuOH + OH−

Despite the absence of evidence for its existence, CuOH has been invoked as a catalyst in organic synthesis.[5]

Gaseous CuOH

Gaseous CuOH has been characterized spectroscopically using intracavity laser spectroscopy,[6] single vibronic level emission,[7] and microwave spectroscopic detection.[8]

CuOH is calculated to be bent, with the point group Cs. In this case, the bond distance of the Cu-O bond was 1.818 Å and the bond distance of the O-H bond was 0.960 Å. The bond angle for this geometry was 131.9°. The compound is highly ionic in character, which is why this angle is not exactly 120°. Structural parameters for linear CuOH have also been examined computationally.[3]

Ligand-stabilized Cu(I) hydroxides

Structure of a CuOH(IPr) complex. Color code: blue = N, copper = Cu, red = O, white = C, H.

Although simple CuOH compounds are fairly elusive or restricted to the gas-phase within spectrometers, some derivatives are well characterized.

Specifically cuprous hydroxides have been prepared using bulky NHC co-ligands.[9] In addition to Cu(IPr)OH, the dimer [Cu(IPr)]2OH]+ (as its BF−4 salt)[10]) and the aquo complex [Cu(IPr)]OH2]+ (as its SbF−6 salt) have been characterized by X-ray crystallography.[11]

References

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