Unprecedented Formation of a High-Valent Cu(III) Trifluoromethyl Hydroxide Tetramer

The first high-valent Cu(III) trifluoromethyl hydroxide heterocubane with the tetrameric structure [Cu(CF3)2(OH)]4 was synthesized by air oxidation of in situ formed bis(trifluoromethyl)cuprate(I) and fully characterized, including X-ray crystallography. This unique compound shows versatile reactivity, functioning as a hydroxide base towards acids via OH ligand substitution, which affords a broad variety of Cu(III) complexes with two trifluoromethyl groups.