Self-assembly and interconversion of tetranuclear copper(II) complexes

The ligand 1,2-bis(benzimidazol-2-yl)-1,2-ethanediol (H2bzimed, 1) and its N-methylated analogue (H2mbzimed, 2) form a variety of polynuclear complexes with copper(II), all of which contain a planar Cu2O2 lozenge as a central element and in which the bridging oxygen belongs to an alkoxo group of the ligand. Syntheses are reported for dinuclear Cu2(Hmbzimed)2](ClO4)2 x 1.5H2O, Cu(2)2(2), and the tetranuclear species Cu4(Hbzimed)4(ClO4)2](NO3)2 x 4H2O, Cu(4)1(4), Cu4(Hmbzimed)2(mbzimed)Cl2](ClO4)2 x 2H2O x C2H5OH, Cu(4)2(3), and rac-Cu4(H2bzimed)4(bzimed)(ClO4)2](ClO4)4 x 1.5H2O x 3.5C2H5OH, Cu(4)1(5). Crystal structures are reported for the tetranuclear species. Cu(4)1(4) shows a cubane structure, Cu(4)2(3) a stepped cubane structure, and rac-Cu(4)1(5) a novel structure in which one doubly deprotonated ligand lies between the two Cu2O2 units. Magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate that all complexes show antiferromagnetic coupling in the solid state. Studies in solution (ESI-MS, CD, NMR) show that Cu(2)2(2) and Cu(4)2(3) persist in solution but that Cu(4)1(4) dissociates partially and rac-Cu(4)1(5) completely. The six coordination modes of the ligands are discussed together with the effect of the N-methylation on the ligand conformation.