catena‐Poly­[[tetrakis(2‐allyl­tetrazole‐κN4)‐tetra‐μ‐chloro‐tricopper(II)]‐di‐μ‐chloro]

In the crystal structure of the title compound, [Cu₃Cl₆(C₄H₆N₄)₄]_n, there are three Cu atoms, six Cl atoms and four 2‐allyl­tetrazole ligands in the asymmetric unit. The polyhedron of one Cu atom adopts a flattened octahedral geometry, with two 2‐allyl­tetrazole ligands in the axial positions [Cu—N4 = 1.990 (2) and 1.991 (2) Å] and four Cl atoms in the equatorial positions [Cu—Cl = 2.4331 (9)–2.5426 (9) Å]. The polyhedra of the other two Cu atoms have a square‐pyramidal geometry, with three basal sites occupied by Cl atoms [Cu—Cl = 2.2487 (9)–2.3163 (8) and 2.2569 (9)–2.3034 (9) Å] and one basal site occupied by a 2‐allyl­tetrazole ligand [Cu—N4 = 2.028 (2) and 2.013 (2) Å]. A Cl atom lies in the apical position of either pyramid [Cu—Cl = 2.8360 (10) and 2.8046 (9) Å]. The possibility of including the tetrazole N3 atoms in the coordination sphere of the two Cu atoms is discussed. Neighbouring copper polyhedra share their edges with Cl atoms to form one‐dimensional polymeric chains running along the a axis.     

Two Bulky Conjugated 4′‐(4‐Hydroxyphenyl)‐4,2′:6′,4′′‐terpyridine‐based Layered Complexes: Synthesis,Structure, and Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Activity

Two new layered complexes with the formulas of {[Cu(H₂O)(HL)₂Cl](NO₃)}_n ( 1 ) and {[Cu(H₂O)₂(HL)₂](NO₃)₂}_n ( 2 ) were solvothermally synthesized by the reactions of the bulky conjugated 4′‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐4,2′:6′,4′′‐terpyridine ligand (HL) with different Cu^II salts, which were further used as photocatalysts to achieve hydrogen production from water splitting. Single‐crystal structural analyses reveal that both complexes feature coplanar (4 4) layers with different connection manners between the HL extended Z‐shaped chains. More interestingly, 1 possessing more negative conduction band potential and higher structural stability exhibits a large hydrogen production rate of 2.43 mmol · g^–1 · h^–1, which is four times higher than that of 2 . Thus, the Cu^II‐based coordination polymers modified by the bulky conjugated organic ligand can become potentially promising non‐Pt photocatalysts for hydrogen production from water splitting.     

A new copper(II) basic sulfate: poly[3‐aminopyridinium μ3‐hydroxido‐di‐μ3‐sulfato‐bis[aquacopper(II)]]

The crystal structure of the title basic copper(II) sulfate, {(C₅H₇N₂)[Cu₂(OH)(SO₄)₂(H₂O)₂]}_n, shows an unprecedented structural arrangement of two distinct copper centres. CuO₆ and CuO₅ polyhedra are linked through bridging hydroxide and sulfate anions to form negatively charged infinite chains propagated along the a axis. The negative charge is balanced by 3‐aminopyridinium cations that are held in the structure by extensive hydrogen bonding to the inorganic chains. Additionally, the cationic arrangement features π–π stacking.     

A New Preparative Route of the “Stepped‐Cubane” Tetranuclear Copper(II) Compound, [Cu4(μ2‐OH)2(μ3‐OH)2Cl2(bipy)4]Cl2 · 6H2O

The compound [Cu₄(μ₂‐OH)₂(μ₃‐OH)₂Cl₂(bipy)₄]Cl₂ · 6H₂O ( 1 ) was obtained by recrystallization of [Cu(HB)₂(2, 2′‐bipy)] · H₂O (H₂B = diphenylglycolic acid) from EtOH/CH₂Cl₂ and their structure has been determined by single‐crystal X‐ray analysis. The cationic complex may be described as based on a Cu₄(OH)₄ core with a “stepped cubane” structure. The coordination polyhedron around each copper is a distorted square pyramid. The tetranuclear units are linked in the crystal by C‐H…Cl hydrogen bonds and by π‐π interactions between bipyridine rings. IR data are also presented.     

Bis(2,2‐bi­pyridine‐N,N′)tetra‐μ‐chloro‐tetracopper(I)

A novel centrosymmetric chair‐like dimer, bis(2,2′‐bi­pyridine)‐1κ²N,N′;3κ²N,N′‐tetra‐μ‐chloro‐1:2κ²Cl;­2:3κ²Cl;­3:4κ²Cl;1:4κ²Cl‐tetra­copper(I), [Cu₄Cl₄­(C₁₀­H₈­N₂)₂], has been solvothermally synthesized and structurally characterized. The complex self‐assembles into a three‐dimensional network via C—H?Cl hydrogen bonds, π–π stacking and weak Cu?Cl electrostatic interactions.     

catena‐Poly[[(2,2′‐biimidazole‐κ2N,N′)chloro­copper(II)]‐μ‐chloro]

In the polymeric title compound, [CuCl₂(C₆H₆N₄)]_n, each Cu^II ion is five‐coordinated by four basal atoms (two N atoms from a 2,2′‐biimidazole mol­ecule and two Cl⁻ anions) and one axial Cl⁻ anion, in a distorted square‐pyramidal coordination geometry. Cl⁻ anions bridge the {Cu(C₆H₆N₄)Cl} units into one‐dimensional linear chains, which are reinforced by π–π inter­actions. Adjacent linear chains are linked by N—H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds, resulting in a grid layer. The hydrogen‐bonding pattern can be described in graph‐set notation as C(9)R(9)R(14). This study extends our knowledge of the multifunctional properties of the 2,2′‐biimidazole ligand and of the coordination stereochemistry of copper(II).     

Poly[diaquabis(μ‐4,4′‐bipyridine‐κ2N:N′)bis(ethane‐1,2‐diol)di‐μ‐sulfato‐dicopper(II)]

The title compound, [Cu₂(SO₄)₂(C₁₀H₈N₂)₂(C₂H₆O₂)₂(H₂O)₂]_n, contains two crystallographically unique Cu^II centres, each lying on a twofold axis and having a slightly distorted octahedral environment. One Cu^II centre is coordinated by two bridging 4,4′‐bipyridine (4,4′‐bipy) ligands, two sulfate anions and two aqua ligands. The second is surrounded by two 4,4′‐bipy N atoms and four O atoms, two from bridging sulfate anions and two from ethane‐1,2‐diol ligands. The sulfate anion bridges adjacent Cu^II centres, leading to the formation of linear ...Cu1–Cu2–Cu1–Cu2... chains. Adjacent chains are further bridged by 4,4′‐bipy ligands, which are also located on the twofold axis, resulting in a two‐dimensional layered polymer. In the crystal structure, extensive O—H...O hydrogen‐bonding interactions between water molecules, ethane‐1,2‐diol molecules and sulfate anions lead to the formation of a three‐dimensional supramolecular network structure.     

Poly[[di‐μ3‐acetato‐di‐μ2‐aqua‐diaqua‐di‐μ3‐hydroxo‐tricopper(II)] naphthalene‐1,5‐disulfonate]

The crystal structure of the title complex, {[Cu₃(C₂H₃O₂)₂(OH)₂(H₂O)₄](C₁₀H₆O₆S₂)}_n, is built of infinite polymeric cationic {[Cu₃(C₂H₃O₂)₂(H₂O)₄(OH)₂]²⁺}_n chains stretching along the a axis, with naphthalene‐1,5‐disulfonate (1,5‐nds) anions in between. One independent Cu^II cation and the 1,5‐nds anion occupy special positions on crystallographic inversion centres. Each Cu^II cation has an octa­hedral coordination environment formed by two carboxyl O atoms, two hydroxo O atoms and two water mol­ecules. The carboxyl­ate and hydroxo groups perform a bridging function, linking adjacent Cu atoms in the chain, with a shortest Cu⋯Cu distance of 2.990 (3) Å. The chains are further linked into a three‐dimensional supra­molecular framework via hydrogen‐bonding inter­actions involving the sulfonate groups of the 1,5‐­nds dianions.     

The dinuclear copper(II) complexes di‐μ‐chlorido‐bis{[N,N′‐bis(4‐chlorobenzyl)propane‐1,2‐diamine]chloridocopper(II)} and di‐μ‐chlorido‐bis{[N,N′‐bis(3,4‐methylenedioxybenzyl)propane‐1,2‐diamine]chloridocopper(II)}

The two title dinuclear copper(II) complexes, [Cu₂Cl₄(C₁₇H₂₀Cl₂N₂)₂], (I), and [Cu₂Cl₄(C₁₉H₂₂N₂O₄)₂], (II), have similar coordination environments. In each complex, the asymmetric unit consists of one half‐molecule and the two copper centres are bridged by a pair of Cl atoms, resulting in complexes with centrosymmetric structures containing Cu(μ‐Cl)₂Cu parallelogram cores; the Cu...Cu separations and Cu—Cl—Cu angles are 3.4285 (8) Å and 83.36 (3)°, respectively, for (I), and 3.565 (2) Å and 84.39 (7)° for (II). Each Cu atom is five‐coordinated and the coordination geometry around the Cu atom is best described as a distorted square‐pyramid with a τ value of 0.155 (3) for (I) and 0.092 (7) for (II). The apical Cu—Cl bond length is 2.852 (1) Å for (I) and 2.971 (2) Å for (II). The basal Cu—Cl and Cu—N average bonds lengths are 2.2673 (9) and 2.030 (2) Å, respectively, for (I), and 2.280 (2) and 2.038 (6) Å for (II). The molecules of (I) are linked by one C—H...Cl hydrogen bond into a complex [10] sheet. The molecules of (II) are linked by one C—H...Cl and one N—H...O hydrogen bond into a complex [100] sheet.     

MOF‐on‐MOF: Oriented Growth of Multiple Layered Thin Films of Metal–Organic Frameworks

The precise alignment of multiple layers of metal–organic framework (MOF) thin films, or MOF‐on‐MOF films, over macroscopic length scales is presented. The MOF‐on‐MOF films are fabricated by epitaxially matching the interface. The first MOF layer (Cu₂(BPDC)₂, BPDC=biphenyl‐4,4′‐dicarboxylate) is grown on an oriented Cu(OH)₂ film by a “one‐pot” approach. Aligned second (Cu₂(BDC)₂, BDC=benzene 1,4‐dicarboxylate, or Cu₂(BPYDC)₂, BPYDC=2,2′‐bipyridine‐5,5′‐dicarboxylate) MOF layers can be deposited using liquid‐phase epitaxy. The co‐orientation of the MOF films is confirmed by X‐ray diffraction. Importantly, our strategy allows for the synthesis of aligned MOF films, for example, Cu₂(BPYDC)₂, that cannot be grown on a Cu(OH)₂ surface. We show that aligned MOF films furnished with Ag nanoparticles show a unique anisotropic plasmon resonance. Our MOF‐on‐MOF approach expands the chemistry of heteroepitaxially oriented MOF films and provides a new toolbox for multifunctional porous coatings.     

Substitutional and positional disorder in Sr2.88Cu3.12(PO4)4

The title compound, a hydrothermally synthesized strontium copper(II) phosphate(V) (2.88/3.12/4), is isotypic with Sr₃Cu₃(PO₄)₄, obtained previously by solid‐state reaction, but not with Sr₃Cu₃(PO₄)₄, obtained previously by the hydrothermal method. A surplus of copper was observed by both structural and chemical analysis, and the formula obtained by the structural analysis is in full agreement with results of the EDX (energy‐dispersive X‐ray diffraction) analysis. The structure consists of layers of Cu₃O₁₂ groups which are linked via the PO₄ tetrahedra. The Cu₃O₁₂ groups are formed by one Cu1O₄ and two Cu2O₅ coordination polyhedra sharing corners. The central Cu1 atom of the Cu₃O₁₂ group is located at an inversion centre (special position 2a). The unique structural feature of the title compound is the presence of 12% Cu in the Sr1 site (special position 2b, site symmetry ). Moreover, disordered Sr2 atoms were observed: a main site (Sr2a, 90%) and a less occupied site (Sr2b, 10%) are displaced by 0.48 (3) Å along the b axis. Such substitutional and positional disorder was not observed previously in similar compounds.     

Investigation of Chromophoric Behavior of Water‐Soluble LaIII‐CuII Polynuclear Metallamacrocyclic 15‐MC‐5 Complex

The visible absorption spectrum of the water soluble polynuclear metallamacrocyclic La^III‐Cu^II complex La(H₂O)₃[15‐MC_{Cu(II)Phalaha}‐5](Cl)₃ ( 1 ) based on α‐phenylalaninehydroxamic acid appears to be solvent‐ and ion‐sensitive. The copper(II) d–d transitions of the complex 1 dissolved in methanol, ethanol, water, dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide, pyridine, and N‐methylpyrrolidone were studied. The chromophoric behavior of complex 1 was investigated in the presence of the Cl^–, Br^–, I^–, HSO₄^–, CO₃^2–, HCO₃^–, H₂PO₄^–, CN^–, SCN^–, and N₃^– anions. A considerable change of the d–d transition of the central copper(II) atom was observed for the strongly coordinating cyanide and azide anions. In the presence of HSO₄^–, the d–d intensity of copper(II) also decreased significantly. The molecular structure of La₂(H₂O)₇[15‐MC_{Cu(II)Phalaha}‐5]₂(SO₄)₄ ( 2 ), obtained as result of the substitution of the coordinated water molecules in 1 by the SO₄^2– anions, was investigated by X‐ray crystallography.     

Mixed‐ligand MnII and CuII complexes with alternating 2,2′‐bipyrimidine and terephthalate bridges

The novel polymeric complexes catena‐poly[[diaquamanganese(II)]‐μ‐2,2′‐bipyrimidine‐κ⁴N¹,N^1′:N³,N^3′‐[diaquamanganese(II)]‐bis(μ‐terephthalato‐κ²O¹:O⁴)], [Mn₂(C₈H₄O₄)₂(C₈H₆N₄)(H₂O)₄]_n, (I), and catena‐poly[[[aquacopper(II)]‐μ‐aqua‐μ‐hydroxido‐μ‐terephthalato‐κ²O¹:O^1′‐copper(II)‐μ‐aqua‐μ‐hydroxido‐μ‐terephthalato‐κ²O¹:O^1′‐[aquacopper(II)]‐μ‐2,2′‐bipyrimidine‐κ⁴N¹,N^1′:N³,N^3′] tetrahydrate], {[Cu₃(C₈H₄O₄)₂(OH)₂(C₈H₆N₄)(H₂O)₄]·4H₂O}_n, (II), containing bridging 2,2′‐bipyrimidine (bpym) ligands coordinated as bis‐chelates, have been prepared via a ligand‐exchange reaction. In both cases, quite unusual coordination modes of the terephthalate (tpht²⁻) anions were found. In (I), two tpht²⁻ anions acting as bis‐monodentate ligands bridge the Mn^II centres in a parallel fashion. In (II), the tpht²⁻ anions act as endo‐bridges and connect two Cu^II centres in combination with additional aqua and hydroxide bridges. In this way, the binuclear [Mn₂(tpht)₂(bpym)(H₂O)₄] entity in (I) and the trinuclear [Cu₃(tpht)₂(OH)₂(bpym)(H₂O)₄]·4H₂O coordination entity in (II) build up one‐dimensional polymeric chains along the b axis. In (I), the Mn^II cation lies on a twofold axis, whereas the four central C atoms of the bpym ligand are located on a mirror plane. In (II), the central Cu^II cation is also on a special position (site symmetry ). In the crystal structures, the packing of the chains is further strengthened by a system of hydrogen bonds [in both (I) and (II)] and weak face‐to‐face π–π interactions [in (I)], forming three‐dimensional metal–organic frameworks. The Mn^II cation in (I) has a trigonally deformed octahedral geometry, whereas the Cu^II cations in (II) are in distorted octahedral environments. The Cu^II polyhedra are inclined relative to each other and share common edges.     

Hydroxo‐bridged Tetranuclear CuII Complexes: {[Cu(bpy)(OH)]4Cl2}Cl2 · 6 H2O and {[Cu(phen)(OH)]4(H2O)2}]Cl4 · 4 H2O

The blue tetranuclear Cu^II complexes {[Cu(bpy)(OH)]₄Cl₂}Cl₂ · 6 H₂O ( 1 ) and {[Cu(phen)(OH)]₄(H₂O)₂}Cl₄ · 4 H₂O ( 2 ) were synthesized and characterized by single crystal X‐ray diffraction. ( 1 ): P 1 (no. 2), a = 9.240(1) Å, b = 10.366(2) Å, c = 12.973(2) Å, α = 85.76(1)°, β = 75.94(1)°, γ = 72.94(1)°, V = 1152.2(4) ų, Z = 1; ( 2 ): P 1 (no. 2), a = 9.770(3) Å, b = 10.118(3) Å, c = 14.258(4) Å, α = 83.72(2)°, β = 70.31(1)°, γ = 70.63(1)°, V = 1252.0(9) ų, Z = 1. The building units are centrosymmetric tetranuclear {[Cu(bpy)(OH)]₄Cl₂}²⁺ and {[Cu(phen)(OH)]₄(H₂O)₂}⁴⁺ complex cations formed by condensation of four elongated square pyramids CuN₂(OH)₂L^ap with the apical ligands L^ap = Cl, H₂O, OH. The resulting [Cu₄(μ₂‐OH)₂(μ₃‐OH)₂] core has the shape of a zigzag band of three Cu₂(OH)₂ squares. The cations exhibit intramolecular and intermolecular π‐π stacking interactions and the latter form 2D layers with the non‐bonded Cl^– anions and H₂O molecules in between (bond lengths: Cu–N = 1.995–2.038 Å; Cu–O = 1.927–1.982 Å; Cu–Cl^ap = 2.563; Cu–O^ap(OH) = 2.334–2.369 Å; Cu–O^ap(H₂O) = 2.256 Å). The Cu…Cu distances of about 2.93 Å do not indicate direct interactions, but the strongly reduced magnetic moment of about 2.74 B.M. corresponds with only two unpaired electrons per formula unit of 1 (1.37 B.M./Cu) and obviously results from intramolecular spin couplings (χ_m(T‐θ) = 0.933 cm³ · mol^–1 · K with θ = –0.7 K).     

catena‐Poly[[(2,2′‐diamino‐4,4′‐bithiazole){μ3‐cis‐N‐(2‐carboxylatophenyl)‐N′‐[3‐(dimethylamino)propyl]oxamidato(3−)}dicopper(II)] nitrate 0.6‐hydrate]

The title complex, {[Cu₂(C₁₄H₁₆N₃O₄)(C₆H₆N₄S₂)]NO₃·0.6H₂O}_n, is a one‐dimensional copper(II) coordination polymer bridged by cis‐oxamide and carboxylate groups. The asymmetric unit is composed of a dinuclear copper(II) cation, [Cu₂(dmapob)(dabt)]⁺ {dmapob is N‐(2‐carboxylatophenyl)‐N′‐[3‐(dimethylamino)propyl]oxamidate and dabt is 2,2′‐diamino‐4,4′‐bithiazole}, one nitrate anion and one partially occupied site for a solvent water molecule. The two Cu^II ions are located in square‐planar and square‐pyramidal coordination environments, respectively. The separations of the Cu atoms bridged by oxamide and carboxylate groups are 5.2053 (3) and 5.0971 (4) Å, respectively. The complex chains are linked by classical hydrogen bonds to form a layer and then assembled by π–π stacking interactions into a three‐dimensional network. The influence of the terminal ligand on the structure of the complex is discussed.     

Poly[[di‐μ‐aqua‐tetraaquadi‐μ‐hydroxido‐bis(μ3‐3‐nitrophthalato)tricopper(II)] dihydrate]

The novel title complex, {[Cu₃(C₈H₃NO₆)₂(OH)₂(H₂O)₆]·2H₂O}_n, has a one‐dimensional polymeric double chain structure where the three Cu atoms are linked by μ₂‐OH and μ₂‐H₂O groups, and these trinuclear centres are bridged by two 3‐nitrophthalate ligands. The asymmetric unit contains one and a half crystallographically independent Cu atoms (one lying on a centre of inversion), both coordinated by six O atoms and exhibiting distorted octahedral coordination geometries, but with different coordination environments. Each 3‐nitrophthalate ligand connects to three Cu atoms through two O atoms of one carboxylate group and one O atom of the nitro group. The remaining carboxylate group is free and is involved in intrachain hydrogen bonds, reinforcing the chain linkage.     

Synthetic and Structural Studies on Copper 1 H‐[1,10]‐Phenanthrolin‐2‐one Coordination Complexes: Isolation of a Novel Intermediate During 1,10‐Phenanthroline Hydroxylation

The synthesis and crystal structure elucidation of a novel dinuclear heteroleptic copper(II) complex has led to an alternative mechanism in the formation of covalent hydrates. During further studies on the synthesis and properties of [Cu₂(ophen)₂] ( 1 ), a dinuclear complex of copper(I) with 1 H‐[1,10]‐phenanthrolin‐2‐one (Hophen), two intermediates/alternative products 2 and 3 were isolated. The dinuclear, antiferromagnetic complex [Cu₂(ophen)₂(phen)₂] ? (NO₃)₂ ? 9H₂O ( 3 , phen=1,10‐phenanthroline) contains two five‐coordinate copper(II) ions, both with trigonal‐bipyramidal coordination, which are bridged together through deprotonated hydroxyl groups with a Cu? Cu non‐bonding distance of 3.100 Å. Complex [Cu(phen)₂(H₂O)] ? (NO₃)₂ ( 2 ) is a polymorph of a previously reported material. The occurrence of 2 and 3 has led us to propose a variation to the Gillard mechanism for the formation of covalent hydrates in bidentate N‐heterocycles in which the attacking nucleophile may be the deprotonated form of 2 , [Cu(phen)₂(OH)]^?, rather than free OH^?.     

Poly[[diaqua‐μ‐4,4′‐bipyridine‐dinitratodi‐μ‐l‐tyrosinato‐dicopper(II)]: a chiral two‐dimensional coordination polymer

The title compound, [Cu₂(C₉H₁₀NO₃)₂(NO₃)₂(C₁₀H₈N₂)(H₂O)₂]_n, contains Cu^II atoms and l ‐tyrosinate (l ‐tyr) and 4,4′‐bipyridine (4,4′‐bipy) ligands in a 2:2:1 ratio. Each Cu atom is coordinated by one amino N atom and two carboxylate O atoms from two l ‐tyr ligands, one N atom from a 4,4′‐bipy ligand, a monodentate nitrate ion and a water molecule in an elongated octahedral geometry. Adjacent Cu atoms are bridged by the bidentate carboxylate groups into a chain. These chains are further linked by the bridging 4,4′‐bipy ligands, forming an undulated chiral two‐dimensional sheet. O—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen bonds connect the sheets in the [100] direction. This study offers useful information for the engineering of chiral coordination polymers with amino acids and 4,4′‐bipy ligands by considering the ratios of the metal ion and organic components.     

Di‐μ‐hydroxido‐bis{[bis(6‐methyl‐2‐pyridylmethyl)(2‐phenylethyl)amine‐κ3N′,N′′,N′′′]copper(II)} bis(perchlorate)

The title compund, [Cu₂(OH)₂(C₂₂H₂₅N₃)₂](ClO₄)₂, is a copper(II) dimer, with two [CuL]²⁺ units [L is bis(6‐methyl‐2‐pyridylmethyl)(2‐phenylethyl)amine] bridged by hydroxide groups to define the {[CuL](μ‐OH)₂[CuL]}²⁺ cation. Charge balance is provided by perchlorate counter‐anions. The cation has a crystallographic inversion centre halfway between the Cu^II ions, which are separated by 3.0161 (8) Å. The central core of the cation is an almost regular Cu₂O₂ parallelogram of sides 1.931 (2) and 1.935 (2) Å, with a Cu—O—Cu angle of 102.55 (11)°. The coordination geometry around each Cu^II centre can be best described as a square‐based pyramid, with three N atoms from L ligands and two hydroxide O atoms completing the coordination environment. Each cationic unit is hydrogen bonded to two perchlorate anions by means of hydroxide–perchlorate O—H...O interactions.     

The first di‐μ‐hydro­xo‐bridged binuclear copper complex containing a bis‐guanidine ligand

The present structure determination of di‐μ‐hydroxo‐bis{[N,N′‐bis­(dipiperidino­methyl­ene)­propane‐1,3‐di­amine‐κ²N,N′]copper(II)} bis­(hexa­fluoro­phosphate), [Cu₂(OH)₂(C₂₅H₄₆N₆)₂](PF₆)₂, is the first to crystallographically characterize a Cu₂(μ‐OH)₂ complex with a bidentate guanidine ligand. The cation lies on a crystallographic inversion centre and shows planar fourfold coordination of the copper centres. The Cu₂(μ‐OH)₂ species can be distinguished from Cu₂(μ‐O)₂ by the Cu—O bond lengths. The packing is determined by strong intermolecular anion–cation hydrogen bonds.