(Imidazole)(3,3′-trimethylenedinitrilo bis (2-butanone oximate)) copper(II) perchlorate: Synthesis and crystal structure of a five-coordinate copper-protein model complex

The synthesis and crystal structure of the novel pentacoordinated complex [Cu(DOHPN)(IMI-DAZOLE)] (ClO4), (DOHPN=(3,3′-trimethylenedinitrilo bis 2-butanone oxime) are reported. The X-ray crystal structure (space groupP2₁/n, a=11.349(2) Å,b=14.241(3) Å,c= 12.635(3) Å; α=90°, β=100.21 (3)°, γ=90°) shows that the copper(II) ion occupies a distorted square-pyramidal geometry with the imidazole ligand occupying the axial position. The copper(II)-(N)imidazole distance is 2.125(3) Å and the copper(II)-tetraaza plane distance is 0.385/Å. The tetraaza ligand DOHPN adopts a “butterfly-like” geometry with a dihedral angle of 149.69°. The title complex is the first structurally characterized compound of the series [Cu(DOHPN)(axial ligand)]ⁿ⁺ where the axial ligand is a neutral N-heterocycle with known biological relevance. A comparison of the structural parameters with those observed when the axial ligand is H₂O or NCS^? (N-bonded) gives the following series with increasing metal-ligand interaction: H₂O>IMIDAZOLE>NCS^? (N-bonded).