Synthesis and characterization of Cu complexes. For our analysis, we selected a catalytic iododeboronation system reported by Gouverneur using Cu(OAc)2 and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) as the catalyst/ligand system and NaI as the requisite source of iodide (Scheme 2). 7 Based on these conditions, we sought to prepare complexes that may be formed in situ.