Intriguing C-H...Cu interactions in bis-(phenanthroline)Cu(i) redox mediators for dye-sensitized solar cells

We have synthesized and characterized a series of bis-(phenanthroline) Cu(I) complexes of interest as redox mediators for dyesensitized solar cells. This study led to the discovery of intriguing anagostic interactions between the hydrogen atom and the copper center as evidenced by X-ray diffraction studies on a single crystal. Remarkably, an anagostic interaction was found between a H atom of a methyl group and a copper site.