Copper(I) sulfate, also known as cuprous sulfate, is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula Cu<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>. It is a white solid, in contrast to copper(II) sulfate, which is blue in hydrous form. Compared to the commonly available reagent, copper(II) sulfate, copper(I) sulfate is unstable and not readily available.
Cu<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Fddd. Each oxygen in a sulfate anion is bridged to another sulfate by a copper atom, and the CuâÂÂO distances are 196 pm.
Cuprous sulfate is produced by the reaction of copper metal with sulfuric acid at 200 ðC:
Cu<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> can also be synthesized by the action of dimethyl sulfate on cuprous oxide:
The material is stable in dry air at room temperature but decomposes rapidly in presence of moisture or upon heating. It decomposes into copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate upon contact with water.
A copper(I) sulfate metal-organic framework (MOF) with the formula has been characterized. It is prepared by hydrothermal synthesis involving copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate, L-aspartic acid, and 4,4â²-bipyridine. It is a heterogeneous catalyst for the cyclopropanation of styrene, with high trans cyclopropane diastereoselectivity.