New unsymmetrical μ-phenoxo bridged binuclear copper(II) complexes

A series of binuclear Cu^II complexes [Cu₂XL] ⁿ⁺ having two copper(II) ions bridged by different motifs (X = OH^–, MeCO₂ ^–, or Cl^–) have been prepared using the ligands: H₂L¹ = 4-methyl-2-[N-(2-{dimethylamino}ethyl-N-methyl)aminomethyl]-6-[(prolin-1-yl)methyl]phenol, H₂L² = 4-nitro-2-[N-(2-{dimethylamino}ethyl-N-methyl)aminomethyl]-6-[(prolin-1-yl)methyl]phenol, H₂L³ = 4-methyl-2-[N-(2-{diethylamino}ethyl-N-ethyl)aminomethyl]-6-[(prolin-1-yl)methyl]phenol and H₂L⁴ = 4-nitro-2-[N-(2-{diethylamino}ethyl-N-ethyl)aminomethyl]-6-[(prolin-1-yl)methyl]phenol. The complexes have been characterized by spectroscopic, analytical, magnetic and electrochemical measurements. Cryomagnetic investigations (80–300 K) revealed anti-ferromagnetic exchange between the Cu^II ions (–2J in the range –50 to –182 cm^–1). The strength of anti-ferromagnetic coupling lies in the order: OAc > OH > Cl. Cyclic voltammetry revealed the presence of two redox couples, assigned to Cu^II/Cu^II/Cu^II/Cu^I/Cu^I/Cu^I. The first reduction potential is sensitive to electronic effects from the aromatic ring substituents and steric effect on the donor nitrogens (side arm) of the ligand systems.     

Synthesis and characterization of peroxo complexes of uranium(VI) with aroylhydrazone ligands

The uranium(VI) peroxo complexes containing aroylhydrazones ligands having composition [UO(O₂)L-L(NO₃)₂]·H₂O (where L-L = Benzoic acid[1-(Furan-2-yl)methylene] hydrazide, Benzoic acid[(thiophene-2-yl)methylene] hydrazide, Benzoic acid[1-(thiophene-2-yl)ethylidene] hydrazide, Benzoic acid(phenylmethylene) hydrazide, Benzoic acid[1-(anisol-3-yl)methylene] hydrazide and Benzoic acid[(p-chlorobenzyl)methylene] hydrazide are reported. The complexes were characterized by various physico-chemical techniques, viz. elemental analysis, molar conductivity, magnetic susceptibility measurements, infra red, electronic, mass spectral and TGA/DTA studies. These studies revealed that complexes are non-electrolytes and diamagnetic in nature. The ligands are bound to metal in a bidentate mode. Thermal analysis results provide conclusive evidence for the presence of water molecules in the complexes. Mass spectra confirm the molecular mass of the complexes. Antifungal activity of complexes revealed enhanced activity of complexes as compared to the corresponding ligands.     

Mixed ligand complexes of tungsten(VI) containing aroyl hydrazones and isothiocyanate

Five complexes [WO(NCS)₄L–L] (where L–L = benzoic acid[1-(Furan-2-yl)methylene]hydrazide(BFMH), benzoic acid[(thiophen-2-yl)methylene]hydrazide(BTMH), benzoic acid[1-(thiophen-2-yl)ethylidene]hydrazide(BTEH), benzoic acid(phenylmethylene)hydrazide(BPMH) and benzoic acid[1-(anisol-3-yl) methylene]hydrazide(BAMH)) have been prepared by reaction of ammonium tetraisothiocyanatodioxotungstate(VI) with the corresponding ligand in aqueous medium in the presence of hydrochloric acid. The complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductivity, magnetic moment measurements, IR, electronic spectra, thermogravimetric analysis TGA/DTA and ¹H NMR.     

Transition metal ion complexes of a thiosemicarbazone derived from 6-methyl-2-acetylpyridine

Summary A series of metal ion complexes of the thiosemicarbazone, 3-azabicyclo[3.2.2]nonane-3-thiocarboxylic acid 2-[1-(6-methyl-2-pyridinyl)ethylidene]hydrazide (6 MLH) have been prepared and spectrally characterized. The ligand undergoes deprotonation to coordinatevia the thione sulphur, the imine nitrogen and the pyridyl nitrogen. A single anionic ligand such as Cl^–, Br^– and NO₃ ^– completes the bonding to the Cu^II and Ni^II centre. The compound derived from CoCl₂ contains two 6 MLH ligands bound to a Co^II centre and a CoCl ₄ ^2– counter ion. Complexes derived from perchlorate salts may feature 6 MLH, 6 ML, or both with the Co^II being oxidized to Co^III. The solids were characterized by i.r., electronic and e.s.r. spectroscopy. In addition, electronic and e.s.r. spectra of their chloroform solutions were recorded.NATO Fellow, on leave from Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Two New Schiff Base Ligands and their Complexes with Cobalt(II), Nickel(II) and Copper(II)

Two Schiff base ligands, 2-{E-[(5-phenyl-6H-1,3,4-thiadiazin-2yl)imino]methyne}-1-naphthol (L¹H) and 5-nitro-2-{[(5-phenyl-6H-1,3,4-thiadiazin-2-yl)imino]methyne}phenol (L²H) have been prepared from 5-phenyl-6H-1,3,4-thiadiazin-2-amine (A), 2-hydroxynaphthaldehyde (1) and 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzaldehyde (2) Mononuclear Co(II), Ni^II and Cu^II complexes of the ligands have been prepared by using Co^II, Ni^II and Cu^II salts with a 1:2 metal:ligand ratio. It was determined that the bidentate behavior of the ligands is accomplished via the phenolic oxygen and the azomethine nitrogen atoms. The structures of the ligands and their complexes were identified by using elemental analyses, i.r., ¹H-n.m.r. spectra, electronic spectra, magnetic susceptibility measurements and thermogravimetric analyses (t.g.a.).     

Synthesis,electrochemical and e.p.r. spectral studies of binuclear copper(II) complexes with new pentadentate L-proline-based binucleating ligands

The synthesis, reduction, optical and e.p.r. spectral properties of a series of new binuclear copper(II) complexes, containing bridging moieties (OH^–, MeCO₂ ^–, NO₂ ^–, and N₃ ^–), with new proline-based binuclear pentadentate Mannich base ligands is described. The ligands are: 2,6-bis[(prolin-1-yl)methyl]4-bromophenol [H₃L¹], 2,6-bis[(prolin-1-yl)methyl]4-t-butylphenol [H₃L²] and 2,6-bis[(prolin-1-yl)methyl]4-methoxyphenol [H₃L³]. The exogenous bridging complexes thus prepared were hydroxo: [Cu₂L¹(OH)(H₂O)₂] · H₂O (1a), [Cu₂L²(OH)(H₂O)₂] · H₂O (1b), [Cu₂L³(OH)(H₂O)₂] · H₂O (1c), acetato [Cu₂L¹(OAc)] · H₂O (2a), [Cu₂L²(OAc)] · H₂O (2b), [Cu₂L³(OAc)] · H₂O (2c), nitrito [Cu₂L¹(NO₂)(H₂O)₂] · H₂O (3a), [Cu₂L²(NO₂)(H₂O)₂] · H₂O (3b), [Cu₂L³(NO₂)(H₂O)₂] · H₂O (3c) and azido [Cu₂L¹(N₃)(H₂O)₂] · H₂O (4a), [Cu₂L²(N₃)(H₂O)₂] · H₂O (4b) and [Cu₂L³(N₃)(H₂O)₂] · H₂O (4c). The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis and by spectroscopy. They exhibit resolved copper hyperfine e.p.r. spectra at room temperature, indicating the presence of weak antiferromagnetic coupling between the copper atoms. The strength of the antiferromagnetic coupling lies in the order: NO₂ N₃ OH OAc. Cyclic voltammetry revealed the presence of two redox couples Cu^IICu^II Cu^IICu^I Cu^ICu^I. The conproportionality constant K _con for the mixed valent Cu^IICu^I species for all the complexes have been determined electrochemically.     

Chiral Tetraamines Based on (S)-2-(Aminomethyl)pyrrolidine: Template synthesis and properties of copper(II) complexes

The template reaction of {bis[(S)-2-(aminomethyl)pyrrolidine]}copper(II) with formaldehyde, nitroethane, and base in MeOH yields optically pure {1,7-bis[(S)-pyrrolidin-2-yl]-4-methyl-4-nitro-2,6-diazaheptane}- copper(II) ([Cu((S,S)-mnppm)]²⁺) in high yield. The same reaction with rac-2-(aminomethyl)pyrrolidine is also described. Preparative details and spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of the Cu^II complexes and of the free ligands are reported and compared with structural, spectroscopic and electrochemical data of the Cu^II complex of the unsubstituted parent ligand 1,7-bis[(S)-pyrrolidin-2-yl]-2,6-diazaheptane (ppm). The crystal structure of [Cu(ppm)]Cl ClO₄ has been determined by X-ray diffraction methods.     

Triethylenetetraminehexaacetatoferrato(II)cuprate(II), [FeIICuII-(ttha)]2−: oxidation-induced cross-binuclear metal exchange

Summary The heterobinuclear complex [Fe^IICu^II(ttha)]^2– (1) (ttha^6– = triethylenetetraminehexaacetate), exhibits the same two-nitrogen per metal coordination of the related homobinuclear [Cu _inf2 ^supII (ttha)]^2– complex, but(1) has a signature broad single derivative e.p.r. line atg = 2.11 with a peak-to-peak width of 182 G. Oxidation to the [Fe^IIICu^II(ttha)]^– complex by either O₂ or H₂O₂ initiates a rapid cross-binuclear metal exchange forming homobinuclear [Fe _inf2 ^supIII O(ttha)]^2– and [Cu _inf2 ^sup– (ttha)]^2– products (t _1/2 ca 3.9 s). An isomeric form of [Fe^IIICu^II(ttha)]^–, which has three nitrogen donors bound to Cu^II and only the remaining iminodiacetate fragment bound to Fe^III, rearranges much more slowly (t _1/2 ca 4.8 h).     

Intermolecular interaction and magnetic coupling mechanism of a mixed-valence CuIICuI tetranuclear complex with iodide bridge

A tetranuclear Cu^ICu^II mixed oxidation state complex, [Cu^II ₂(μ-I)₂Cu^I ₂(μ-I)₂(phenP)₂I₂] (phenPE: 2-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-1,10-phenanthroline), has been prepared and its crystal structure is determined by X-ray crystallography. In the complex, Cu^II is a distorted square pyramid and Cu^I is a distorted trigonal planar coordination environment; Cu^II and Cu^I are bridged by iodide. It is rare to form a Cu^II-iodide bond and for Cu^II and Cu^I to be bridged by iodide. In the crystal, there is a slipped π–π stacking between adjacent Cu^II complexes, which resulted in the formation of the 1-D chain along the c axis. The fitting for the variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility data gave magnetic coupling constant 2J?=??1.16?cm^?1 and it may be ascribed to the intermolecular π–π magnetic coupling pathway.     

Synthesis,crystal structure and properties of the dimeric copper(II) complex, [Cu2(Hboa)2(H2O)2] · (ClO4)2 (H2boa = biacetyl oxime azine)

The crystal structure of the polyhydrazone dioxime-containing dimeric copper(II) (polyhydrazone dioxime: HON=CMe[CMe=NN=CMe] _n CMe=NOH) complex, [Cu₂(Hboa)₂(H₂O)₂] · (ClO₄)₂ (1) (H₂boa = biacetyl oxime azine) has been determined. Complex (1) contains an unusual six-membered ring, which is composed of two oxime groups and two Cu^II ions. The variable temperature magnetic susceptibility of (1) in the 5–300 K range has been interpreted in terms of a Cu^II dimer. The magnetic behavior shows that the bridging six-membered ring mediates very strongly in the antiferromagnetic exchange interaction, with the fitting value J = –361(1) cm^–1 and the e.p.r. g-value of 2.193.     

Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of new 2-((1-furan-2-yl)ethylidene)hydrazono)-4-phenylthiazol-3(2H)-amine derivatives and their schiff bases with 4-nitrobenzaldehyde

Abstract

A new series of 2-((1-furan-2-yl)ethylidene)hydrazono)-4-substitutedphenylthiazol-3(2H)-amines (2a–2o) and their Schiff bases (3a–3o) from 4-nitrobenzaldehyde were synthesized. The chemical structures of all the synthesized compounds were confirmed by their IR, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. They were screened for their antimicrobial and antifungal activities. Additionally, in vitro cytotoxic acivity of the most active antifungal compound (3o) and ketoconazole was determined in NIH/3T3 cells by MTT assay. Compound 2i (4-{3-Amino-2-[(1-(furan-2-yl)ethylidene)hydrazono]-2,3-dihydrothiazol-4-yl}phenol) showed the greatest antifungal activity among the newly synthesized derivatives. Schiff bases (3c-3n) displayed an undeniable fungicidal action against Candida parapsilosis ATCC 22019 as intense as the reference ketoconazole. In addition, the most active Schiff base 3o (2-[(1-(Furan-2-yl)ethylidene)hydrazono]-N-(4-nitrobenzylidene)-4-(2,3,4-trichloro phenyl)thiazol-3(2H)-amine) showed the highest antifungal activity against both Candida krusei ATCC 6258 and Candida parapsilosis ATCC 22019, and was as potent as ketoconazole. Moreover, compound 3o was found to be non-cytotoxic against NIH/3T3 cells.     

Synthesis and characterization of mononuclear copper(II) and dinuclear cadmium(II) complexes with di-(2-picolyl)sulfide

The reaction of CuCl₂ · 2H₂O and CdCl₂ with di-(2-picolyl)sulfide (dps) leads to the formation of mononuclear copper(II) and binuclear cadmium(II) complexes, [Cu(dps)Cl₂] · H₂O (1) and [(dps)(Cl)Cd^II(μ-Cl)₂Cd^II(Cl)(dps)] (2). The copper atom in (1) is coordinated to one sulfur and two nitrogen atoms from the dps ligand and two chlorides in a distorted square-pyramidal environment. Complex (2) has two distorted octahedra sharing the basal edge that contain the bridging chloro ligands, each of which resides at a center of inversion. Cyclic voltammetric data show that (1) undergoes two reversible one-electron waves corresponding to Cu^II/Cu^III and Cu^II/Cu^I processes. However, cyclic voltammetry of (2) gives two irreversible reduced waves.     

Catalytic autooxidation ofp-anisaldehyde and styrene by a cobaltbis-schiff base complex

Summary The Co^II complex derived from the unsymmetricalbis-Schiff base ligand, 3-[1-[[2-[[(2-hydroxyphenyl)methylene]-amino]ethyl]amino]ethylidene]-6-methyl-2H-pyran-2,4(3H) dione H₂(dha, salen), is a catalyst for the autoxidation of aromatic aldehydes. Under ambient condition Co(dha, salen) catalyses the oxidation ofp-anisaldehyde top-anisic acid in quantitative yield (250 turnovers). The presence of Co(dha, salen) also accelerates the co-oxidation ofp-anisaldehyde and styrene (88 turnovers). In the co-oxidation process, styrene is selectively converted to styrene oxide as the major product.     

Zur Metallion-Komplexbildung fünfgliedriger α-Carboxy-Heterocyclen

The stability constants of some 1:1 Me²⁺-complexes of the following five-membered heterocyclic carboxylic acids have been measured in 50 perc. aqueous dioxane (I = 0,1; t = 25°): thiophene-2- (I), 3-phenylisothiazole-5- (II), tetrahydrothiophene-2- (III), furan-2- (IV), pyrrole-2- (V), and tetrahydrofuran-2-carboxylic acid (VI) (table 1 and 2). A comparison of the stability constants of the Cu²⁺-complexes of acetic acid (VII), benzoic acid (VIII), m-chlorobenzoic acid (IX), p-nitrobenzoic acid (X), and chloroacetic acid (VI) shows that the heterocyclic S and O atoms coordinate with Cu²⁺, i.e. Cu²⁺ chelates (structure XII) are formed (Figure 1). NMR. spectra (Fig. 2) give evidence for the coordination of the «aromatic» S atom in the Cu²⁺ complexes of thiophene-2-carboxylic acid (I), i.e. at least a part of the complexes are chelates. The NMR. spectra of furan-2-carboxylic acid (IV) gave no unequivocal results; in the case of pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid (V) the interaction between Cu²⁺ and the NH-group is very small (Fig. 4), i.e. a simple carboxylic acid complex is formed.     

A carboxyl porphyrin zinc(II)–copper(II) supramolecular system with fluorescence strengthening properties

The supramolecular self-assembly behavior, by hydrogen-bonding, of zinc(II) [Zn(p-CPTPP)], copper(II) [Cu^II-(p-CPTPP)] complexes [(p-CPTPP) = 5-(p-carboxyl)-phenylene-methanamidophenyl-10,15,20-triphenylporphyrin] were studied by fluorescence spectroscopic titration and by u.v.–vis. spectra. The fluorescence strengthening character was observed in the Zn(p-CPTPP)/Cu^II(p-CPTPP) system in a fluorescence spectroscopic titration experiment. The formation constant was determined from the fluorescence spectroscopic titration data and the fluorescence strengthening property of the system was discussed using the fluorescence spectrum of the charge-separated state obtained by the method of spline wavelet least squares.     

Effect of substituents,solute–solute–non-polar solvent interactions and temperature on the spectral properties of bis(dithiophosphato)copper(II) complexes

Extended studies by e.p.r. and electronic spectroscopy on the effect of different non-polar solvents, temperature and disulfide concentration on the spectral properties of bis(dithiophosphato)copper(II), Cu[(RO)₂PS₂]₂, complexes [R = Me, Et and i-Pr] are reported. The molar absorptivity and e.p.r. intensity are very sensitive to the shape and size of the remote ligand substituents and increase in the order: Me < Et < i-Pr. The nature of the solvent and time after dissolution are also important regarding the magnitude of the e.p.r. intensity and molar absorptivity which, 1 h after dissolution, do not follow Beer's law. The molar absorptivities obtained at a given Cu^II(R₂–dtp)₂ concentration increase in the solvent order: n-hexane < n-heptane < CCl₄ < PhMe < PhH < CHCl₃. Twenty-four hours after dissolution the same samples exhibit: (i) linearity between absorbance and concentration of Cu^II(R₂–dtp)₂; (ii) a significant increase in molar absorptivity which is not equal for all the complexes studied and follows the same substituent and solvent orders. Beer's law is satisfied above 5 × 10^–4 M for [(RO)₂PS₂]₂Cu (R = Et, i-Pr) and above 3 × 10^–3 M for [(MeO)₂PS₂]Cu. A significant additional increase, ca. 30–40%, of molar absorptivity, is obtained by increasing the solution temperature from 20 to 50 °C. The molar absorbtivity remains unchanged during 2–3 days after reducing the temperature. Further increase of molecular absorbtivity appears after addition of the corresponding disulfide of dithiophosphate [(RO₂)PS₂–S₂P(RO)₂] to Cu^II[(RO)₂PS₂]₂. The molar absorptivity of Cu[(i-PrO)₂PS₂]₂ increases from 4.8 × 10³ cm^–1 M^–1, 1 h after dissolving the complex up to 2 × 10⁴ cm^–1 M^–1 after addition of the corresponding disulfide. The observed effects are explained on the basis of a self-redox reaction taking place in this type of sulfur containing copper(II) complexes.     

Dioxygen Reactivity of Copper(I)/Manganese(II)-Porphyrin Assemblies: Mechanistic Studies and Cooperative Activation of O2

The oxidation of transition metals such as manganese and copper by dioxygen (O₂) is of great interest to chemists and biochemists for fundamental and practical reasons. In this report, the O₂ reactivities of 1:1 and 1:2 mixtures of [(TPP)Mn^II] (1; TPP: Tetraphenylporphyrin) and [(tmpa)Cu^I(MeCN)]⁺ (2; TMPA: Tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine) in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (MeTHF) are described. Variable-temperature (−110 °C to room temperature) absorption spectroscopic measurements support that, at low temperature, oxygenation of the (TPP)Mn/Cu mixtures leads to rapid formation of a cupric superoxo intermediate, [(tmpa)Cu^II(O₂^•–)]⁺ (3), independent of the presence of the manganese porphyrin complex (1). Complex 3 subsequently reacts with 1 to form a heterobinuclear μ-peroxo species, [(tmpa)Cu^II–(O₂^2–)–Mn^III(TPP)]⁺ (4; λ_max = 443 nm), which thermally converts to a μ-oxo complex, [(tmpa)Cu^II–O–Mn^III(TPP)]⁺ (5; λ_max = 434 and 466 nm), confirmed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. In the 1:2 (TPP)Mn/Cu mixture, 4 is subsequently attacked by a second equivalent of 3, giving a bis-μ-peroxo species, i.e., [(tmpa)Cu^II−(O₂²⁻)−Mn^IV(TPP)−(O₂²⁻)−Cu^II(tmpa)]²⁺ (7; λ_max = 420 nm and δ_pyrrolic = −44.90 ppm). The final decomposition product of the (TPP)Mn/Cu/O₂ chemistry in MeTHF is [(TPP)Mn^III(MeTHF)₂]⁺ (6), whose X-ray structure is also presented and compared to literature analogs.     

Synthesis,crystal structures and physical properties of two terephthalate-bridged copper(II) and nickel(II) complexes

Two ₂-terephthalate (tp) bridged complexes, [Cu₂(tp)(pren)₄](ClO₄)₂ (pren = 1,3-diaminopropane) (1) and [Ni₂(tp)(pren)₄(Him)₂](ClO₄)₂ (Him = imidazole) (2), have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray single-crystal structural analysis. In the discrete dinuclear [Cu₂(tp)(pren)₄]²⁺ cation of complex (1), each Cu^II atom has a square-pyramidal geometry, being coordinated by four nitrogen atoms (avg. 2.031 Å) from two pren ligands at the basal plane and one oxygen atom [2.259(3) Å] from a bis-monodentate tp group at the axial position. In the discrete dinuclear [Ni₂(tp)(pren)₄(Him)₂]²⁺ cation of complex (2), each Ni^II center is coordinated by five nitrogen atoms [Ni—N 2.069(3)–2.109(2) Å] from one Him group and two pren groups, and completed by one oxygen atom [Ni—O 2.138(3) Å] from a bis-monodentate tp group to furnish a distorted octahedron. Magnetic susceptibility studies show that the pair of metal atoms, although being separated by >11.5 Å, exhibit weak intramolecular antiferromagnetic interactions in complexes (1) (g = 2.07 and J = –3.4 cm^–1) and (2) (g = 2.10 and J = –0.7 cm^–1). The electrochemical behaviors of the complexes have also been studied by cyclic voltammogram processes.     

Nuclease activity of 2-substituted heteroaromatic thiosemicarbazone and semicarbazone copper(II) complexes

Copper(II) Schiff base complexes derived from furan-2-carboxaldehyde, 2-furylmethyl ketone, thiophene-2-carboxaldehyde and methyl-2-thienyl ketone with semicarbazide and thiosemicarbazide have been prepared and characterized by analytical, i.r., electronic, e.s.r. and c.v. spectral data. The electronic spectral d–d band position varies from 744–415nm in pyridine and 872–371nm in DMF. E.s.r. g values lie between 2.1439 and 2.3149 at LNT. All complexes undergo quasi-reversible one-electron electrochemical reduction (Cu^III/Cu^II) in the 0.42–0.52V potential range. The electron transfer is much faster in thiosemicarbazone complexes compared to semicarbazone complexes. All these copper(II) complexes showed increased nuclease activity in presence of oxidant.     

Syntheses,crystal structures and properties of copper(II) complexes of 1,3-bis[(4-methyl-5-imidazol-1-yl)ethylideneamino]propan-2-ol and 1,3-bis[(4-methyl-5-imidazol-1-yl)ethylideneamino] propane

The syntheses of two polydentate ligands comprising imidazole donors, 1,3-bis[(4-methyl-5-imidazol-1-yl) ethylideneamino]propan-2-ol (BIPO), 1,3-bis[(4-methyl-5-imidazol-1-yl)ethylideneamino]propane (BIP), and their copper(II) complexes [Cu(BIPO)(ClO₄)(H₂O)] (NO₃) · H₂O (1) and [Cu(BIP)(ClO₄)](ClO₄) · 2H₂O (2) are reported. Single-crystal structural analyses show that (1) adopts an elongated octahedral geometry with the axial positions occupied by a perchlorate oxygen atom and an aqua ligand, while (2) adopts a distorted square-pyramidal geometry with the axial positions occupied by a perchlorate oxygen atom. Electronic spectra in aqueous solution indicate that both (1) and (2) adopt square-pyramidal geometry. Cyclic voltammetry in aqueous solution gives reduction waves at –0.07 and –0.08 V versus s.c.e. for (1) and (2), respectively. The low reduction potential and general reversibility of the redox reaction of (1) and (2) indicate that BIPO and BIP are flexible enough to stabilize both Cu^II and Cu^I forms of the complexes.