Ethyl copper (CuC2H5) is an organocopper compound consisting of copper in its +1 oxidation state (cuprous) bound to an ethyl group. It can be generated by transmetallation by the reaction of copper(I) acetate with tetraethyl lead:
Related compounds Methyl copper was obtained from methyl lithium and copper(I) iodide at low temperature.
A copper ethyl complex has been characterized by X-ray crystallography.
See also Phenylcopper Gilman reagent
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