Synthesis and characterisation of phenoxo bridged dinuclear complexes of copper(II)

A series of model complexes for the type III site, in oxidised hemocyanin, containing Cu₂(μ-0Ph)³⁺ core have been synthesised using a heptadentate ligand (H₃L) formed from the Schiff base condensation of triethylenetetramine and salicylaldehyde. The ligand provides one imine and one inbuilt imidazole nitrogen and two phenolic oxygen donors with both five- and six-membered chelate rings to each metal centre. In the pentacoordinated complexes [Cu₂(L)X]·nH₂O, a third exogenous bridging ligand is present. The TG curve indicates the loss of lattice water molecules between 70 and 125°C. The residue after decomposition is CuO above 550°C. Theg values of theX-band EPR spectrum of [Cu₂L(μ-OAc)]·2H₂O in methanol glass (77 K) are typical of a variety of bridged copper(II) dimers. The copper-copper magnetic interaction is dependent on the presence and nature of X in these complexes.