X-ray structure of a novel histidine-copper(II) complex

A new crystal structure of the dichloro(L-histidine)copper(II) half-hydrate is reported. In this complex, histidine acts as a bidentate ligand to the copper(II) cation. The coordination sphere of the copper cation is created by the carboxyl oxygen and the amine nitrogen from main chain group of histidine. Two additional chloride anions complete the square coordination of the central Cu⁺² cation. In the crystal, the copper cations are additionally surrounded by two chloride anions from neighboring complex molecules, which are located in the distant axial position and fill up the stretched octahedral coordination sphere Cu⁺². In the presented complex, the histidine molecule exists as a zwitter ion with an unprotonated negatively charged carboxyl group and with double protonated positively charged imidazole ring. Crystallographic study was supported by IR measurements confirming the presence of water in the crystal structure.