Synthesis, structural characterization and thermal properties of three copper(II) complexes based on aryl hydrazide ligands

The thiosemicarbazide and hydrazide Cu(II) complexes, Cu₃L₂¹(py)₄Cl₂] (1), Cu(HL²)py] (2) and Cu(HL³)py] (3), (H₂L¹ = 1-picolinoylthiosemicarbazide, H₃L² = N′-(2-hydroxybenzylidene)-3-hydroxy-2-naphthohydrazide, H₃L³ = 2-hydroxy-N′-((2-hydroxy-naphthalen-1-yl)methylene)benzohydrazide) have been prepared and characterized through physicochemical and spectroscopic methods as well as X-ray crystallography. Complex 1 has a centrosymmetric structure with –N–N– bridged Cu₃ skeleton. Neighboring molecules are linked into a 3D supermolecular framework by π–π stacking interactions, N–H···Cl and C–H···Cl hydrogen bonds. Complexes 2 and 3 have similar planar structures but different dimers formed by concomitant Cu···N and Cu···O interactions, respectively. Solvent accessible voids with a volume of 391 ?³ are included in the structure of complex 2, indicating that this complex is a potential host candidate. Thermogravimetric analysis shows that the three complexes are stable up to 100 °C.