%0 Journal Article %T Softening the Donor-Set: From [Cu(P^P)(N^N)][PF6] to [Cu(P^P)(N^S)][PF6] %J Inorganics | An Open Access Journal from MDPI %D 2019 %R https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics7010011 %X We report the synthesis and characterization of [Cu(P^P)(N^S)][PF 6] complexes with P^P = bis(2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl) ether (POP) or 4,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)-9,9- dimethylxanthene (xantphos) and N^S = 2-( iso-propylthio)pyridine ( iPrSpy) or 2-( tert-butylthio)pyridine ( tBuSpy). The single crystal structures of [Cu(POP)( iPrSPy)][PF 6] and [Cu(POP)( tBuSPy)][PF 6] have been determined and confirm a distorted tetrahedral copper(I) centre and chelating P^P and N^S ligands in each complex. Variable temperature (VT) 1H and 31P{ 1H} NMR spectroscopy reveals dynamic behavior with motion of the POP backbone in [Cu(POP)( iPrSPy)][PF 6] and [Cu(POP)( tBuSPy)][PF 6] frozen out at 238 K. VT NMR spectroscopic data including EXSY peaks in the ROESY spectrum of [Cu(xantphos)( tBuSPy)][PF 6] at 198 K reveal that two conformers exist in an approximate ratio of 5:1. Replacing bpy by the N^S ligands shifts the Cu +/Cu 2+ oxidation to a higher potential. The copper(I) compounds are weak emitters in the solid state with PLQY values of <2%. These values are similar to those for [Cu(POP)(bpy)][PF 6] and [Cu(xantphos)(bpy)][PF 6] in the solid state. View Full-Tex %U https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6740/7/1/11