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Synlett 2010(11): 1731-1732  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1219953
SPOTLIGHT
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

Copper(II) Sulfate

Guilherme Rocha Pereira*
Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, UFMG, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, CEP 31.270-901, Brazil
e-Mail: guilhermepereira2000@yahoo.com;
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Publication History

Publication Date:
15 June 2010 (online)

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Introduction

Copper(II) sulfate (CuSO4) exists as a series of compounds that differ in their degree of hydration. The anhydrous form is a gray-white powder, whereas the pentahydrate, the most commonly encountered salt and commercially available, is bright blue. The hydrated copper sulfate occurs in nature as chalcanthite [¹] (pentahydrate), and two more rare ones: bonattite (trihydrate) [²] and boothite (heptahydrate). [³] It can be made by the action of sulfuric acid on a variety of copper(II) compounds, for example the basic copper(II) oxide or by electrolyzing sulfuric acid using copper electrodes. The anhydrous salt, prepared by previous heating of the pentahydrate salt, is used in transacetalization reactions as a dehydrating component. [4] Copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate is used in many organic transformations under mild and convenient conditions to afford the products in high yields. In addition, copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate is a source to prepare copper complexes. [5] [6]