Synthesis and Magnetic Properties of a Copper Cube: [Cu4(OH)4(C16H18N2)4]4+ (ClO4)4 C3H6O [C16H18N2=(E)-1,6-[Di(pyridin-4-yl)hex-3-ene]

The synthesis of a Cu₄(OH)₄ cube which is coordinated by four molecules of the dipyridyl ligand 1,6-[di(pyridin-4-yl)hex-3-ene] is reported. This compound has a trans double bond which restricts the conformational freedom of the ligand and favours coordination within a unique copper cube. The structure was solved by an X-Ray single crystal structure determination and low temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements examined its magnetic properties. The cube classification corresponds to the type I classification of Mergehenn and Haase and the short/long distribution of Cu ⋅⋅⋅ Cu separations in the cube as defined by Ruiz. The magnetic susceptibility measurements show paramagnetic behaviour down to 50 K but below this the copper cube shows weak ferromagnetic exchange interactions. The low temperature magnetic susceptibility characteristics are examined in detail then modelled and compared to other similar Cu₄O₄ copper cubes.     

Kristallstrukturen der iso‐Thiocyanatoberyllate (Ph4P)2[Be(NCS)4] und (Ph4P)4[{Be2(NCS)4(μ‐NCS)2}{Be2(NCS)6(μ‐H2N2C2S2)}]

Bis(tetraphenylphosphonium) hexachloridodiberyllate, (Ph₄P)₂[Be₂Cl₆], reacts with excess trimethylsilyl‐iso‐thiocyanate to give a mixture of colourless single crystals of (Ph₄P)₂[Be(NCS)₄] ( 1 ) and (Ph₄P)₄[{Be₂(NCS)₄(μ‐NCS)₂}{Be₂(NCS)₆(μ‐H₂N₂C₂S₂)}] ( 2 ), which can be separated by selection. Both complexes were characterized by X‐ray diffraction. Compound 1 can be prepared without by‐products by treatment of (Ph₄P)₂[BeCl₄] with excess Me₃SiNCS in dichloromethane solution. 1 : Space group I4₁/a, Z = 4, lattice dimensions at 100(2) K: a = b = 1091.2(1), c = 3937.1(3) pm, R₁ = 0.0474. The [Be(NCS)₄]^2– ion of 1 forms tetragonally distorted tetrahedral anions with Be–N distances of 168.4(2) pm and weak intermolecular S ··· S contacts along [100] and [010]. 2 ·4CH₂Cl₂: Space group P , Z = 1, lattice dimensions at 100(2) K: a = 919.5(1), b = 1248.3(1), c = 2707.0(2) pm, α = 101.61(1) °, β = 95.08(1) °, γ = 94.52(1) °, R₁ = 0.103. Compound 2 contains two different anionic complexes in the ratio 1:1. In {Be₂(NCS)₄(μ‐NCS)₂}^2–, the beryllium atoms are connected by (NCS)^– bridging groups forming centrosymmetric eight‐membered Be₂(NCS)₂ rings with distances Be–N of 168(1) pm and Be–S of 235.2(9) pm. The second anion {Be₂(NCS)₆(μ‐H₂N₂C₂S₂)}^2– consists of two {Be(NCS)₃}^– units, which are linked by the nitrogen atoms of the unique dimeric cyclo‐addition product of HNCS with Be–N distances of 179(1) pm.