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Related on Lably
Through Chemical formula, Pigment and Reagent
Occurrence
The mineral hoganite is a naturally occurring form of copper(II) acetate. A related mineral, also containing calcium, is paceite. Both are very rare.
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Structure
Copper acetate hydrate adopts the paddle wheel structure seen also for related Rh(II) and Cr(II) tetraacetates. One oxygen atom on each acetate is bound to one copper atom at 1.97 Å (0.197 nm). Completing the coordination sphere are two water ligands, with Cu-O distances of 2.20 Å (0.220 nm). The two copper atoms are separated by only 2.62 Å (0.262 nm), which is close to the Cu-Cu separation in metallic copper. The two copper centers interact resulting in a diminishing of the magnetic moment such that at temperatures below 90 K (−297.7 °F), Cu2(OAc)4(H2O)2 is essentially diamagnetic. Cu2(OAc)4(H2O)2 was a critical step in the development of modern theories for antiferromagnetic exchange coupling, which ascribe its low-temperature diamagnetic behavior to cancellation of the two opposing spins on the adjacent copper atoms.
Synthesis
Copper(II) acetate is prepared industrially by heating copper(II) hydroxide or basic copper(II) carbonate with acetic acid.
Uses
Organic synthesis
Copper(II) acetate has found some use as an oxidizing agent in organic syntheses. In the Eglinton reaction Cu2(OAc)4 is used to couple terminal alkynes to give a 1,3-diyne:
- Cu2(OAc)4 + 2 RC≡CH → 2 CuOAc + RC≡C−C≡CR + 2 HOAc
The reaction proceeds via the intermediacy of copper(I) acetylides, which are then oxidized by the copper(II) acetate, releasing the acetylide radical. A related reaction involving copper acetylides is the synthesis of ynamines, terminal alkynes with amine groups using Cu2(OAc)4. It has been used for hydroamination of acrylonitrile.
Chemical analysis
In chemical analysis, it serves as an oxidizing agent in both the Barfoed's test for presence of monosaccharides and as a precursor to a copper-fatty acid complex in the colorimetric copper soap assay to test for free fatty acids.
Other
A mixture of copper acetate and ammonium chloride is used to chemically color copper with a bronze patina.
Related compounds
Copper(I) acetate
Heating a mixture of anhydrous copper(II) acetate and copper metal affords copper(I) acetate:
- Cu + Cu(OAc)2 → 2 CuOAc
Unlike the copper(II) derivative, copper(I) acetate is colourless and diamagnetic.
Basic copper acetate
"Basic copper acetate" is prepared by neutralizing an aqueous solution of copper(II) acetate. The basic acetate is poorly soluble. This material is a component of verdigris, the blue-green substance that forms on copper during long exposures to atmosphere.
Copper acetoarsenite
Copper(II) acetate reacts with arsenic trioxide to form copper acetoarsenite, a powerful insecticide and fungicide called Paris green.