Cupferron is jargon for the ammonium salt of the conjugate base derived from N-nitroso-N-phenylhydroxylamine. This conjugate base is abbreviated as CU−. It once was a common reagent for the complexation of metal ions, being of interest in the area of qualitative inorganic analysis. Its formula is NH4[C6H5N(O)NO]. The anion binds to metal cations through the two oxygen atoms, forming five-membered chelate rings.
Synthesis and complexes

Cupferron is prepared from phenylhydroxylamine and an NO+ source:[1]
- C6H5NHOH + C4H9ONO + NH3 → NH4[C6H5N(O)NO] + C4H9OH
Being a bidentate mono-anionic ligand, CU− forms complexes analogous to those produced with acetylacetonate. Illustrative complexes include Cu(CU)2, Fe(CU)3, and Zr(CU)4.[2][3][4]
References
- ^ C. S. Marvel (1925). "Cupferron". Organic Syntheses. 4: 19. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.004.0019.
- ^ Elerman, Y.; Atakol, O.; Svoboda, I.; Geselle, M. (1995). "Bis(cupferronato)copper(II), [Cu(C6H5N2O2)2]". Acta Crystallographica Section C Crystal Structure Communications. 51 (8): 1520–1522. doi:10.1107/S0108270195002770.
- ^ Van Der Helm, D.; Merritt, L. L.; Degeilh, R.; MacGillavry, C. H. (1965). "The Crystal Structure of IIron Cupferron Fe(O2N2C6H5)3". Acta Crystallographica. 18 (3): 355–362. doi:10.1107/S0365110X65000816.
- ^ Mark, Wanda; Aava, Ulf; Haaland, A.; Resser, Dag; Rasmussen, S. E.; Sunde, Erling; Sørensen, Nils Andreas (1970). "The Crystal Structure of Zirconium Cupferrate, Zr(C6H5N2O2)4". Acta Chemica Scandinavica. 24: 1398–1414. doi:10.3891/acta.chem.scand.24-1398.
You must be logged in to post a comment.