Cyanide-Bridged Fe(III)-Cu(II) Complexes: Jahn-Teller Isomerism and Its Influence on the Magnetic Properties

We report here the synthesis and characterization of four dinuclear cyanide-bridged Fe(III)-Cu(II) complexes, based on a tetra- or a pentadentate bispidine ligand (L(1) or L(2), respectively; bispidines are 3,7-diazabiyclo3.3.1]nonane derivatives) coordinated to the Cu(II) center, and a tridentate bipyridineamide (bpca) coordinated to the low-spin Fe(III) site, with cyanide groups completing the two coordination spheres, one of them bridging between the two metal ions. The four structurally characterized complexes {Fe(bpca)(CN)(3)}{Cu(L(1)·H(2)O)}]BF(4), {Fe(bpca)(CN)(3)}{Cu(L(2))}]Fe(bpca)(CN)(3)]·5H(2)O, {Fe(bpca)(CN)(3)}{Cu(L(2)·MeOH)}]PF(6)·MeOH·H(2)O, and {Fe(bpca)(CN)(3)}{Cu(L(2))}]PF(6)·2H(2)O belong to different structural isomers. The most important differences are structurally and electronically enforced (direction of the pseudo-Jahn-Teller mode) strong or weak interactions of the copper(II) center with the cyanide bridge. The related strength of the magnetic coupling of the two centers is analyzed with a combination of experimental magnetic, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), electronic spectroscopic data together with a ligand-field theory- and density functional theory (DFT)-based analysis.