Synthesis and structural characterization of CuI2 ?

The linear anionic dico-ordinate species, CuI2– has been synthesized and structurally identified in the crystalline products of the reaction of CuI with the crown ethers, 18-crown-6 in the presence of potassium iodide: CuI2K(dicyclohexano-18-crown-6)(1) and CuI2K(18-crown-6)(2); the CuI2– anion is linear in both with short Cu–I distances of 2.394(2) and 2.383(1)Å.