Anion influence on the structure and magnetic properties of a series of multidimensional pyrimidine-2-carboxylato-bridged copper(II) complexes

Seven new polynuclear copper(II) complexes of formula [Cu(mu-pymca)2] (1) (pymca(-) = pyrimidine-2-carboxylato), [Cu(mu-pymca)Br] (2), [Cu(mu-pymca)Cl] (3), [Cu(mu-pymca)(SCN)(H2O)] x 4 H2O (4), [Cu(mu-pymca)N3] (5), [Cu2(mu1,5-dca)2(pymca)2] (6) (dca = dicyanamide), and K{[mu-Au(CN)2]2[(Cu(NH3)2)2(mu-pymca)]}[Au(CN)2]2 (7) have been synthesized by reactions of K-pymca with copper(II) ions in the presence of different counteranions. Compound 1 is a linear neutral chain with a carboxylato bridging ligand in a syn-anti coordination mode, whereas complexes 2 and 3 consist of cationic linear chains with cis and trans bis(chelating) pymca bridging ligands. Complex 4 adopts a helical pymca-bridged chain structure. In complex 5, zigzag pymca-bridged chains are connected by double end-on azide bridging ligands to afford a unique honeycomb layer structure. Complex 6 is a centrosymmetric dinuclear system with double mu 1,5-dicyanamide bridging ligands and pymca end-cap ligands. Complex 7 is made of pymca-bridged dinuclear [Cu(NH3)2(mu-pymca)Cu(NH3)2](3+) units connected by [Au(CN)2](-) anions to four other dinuclear units, giving rise to cationic (4,4) rectangular nets, which are linked by aurophilic interactions to afford a singular 3D network. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements show that complex 1 exhibits a very weak antiferromagnetic coupling through the syn-anti (equatorial-axial) carboxylate bridge (J = -0.57 cm(-1)), whereas complexes 2-4 and 7 exhibit weak to strong antiferromagnetic couplings through the bis(chelating) pymca bridging ligand J = -17.5-276.1 cm(-1)). Quantum Monte Carlo methods have been used to analyze the experimental magnetic data for 5, leading to an antiferromagnetic coupling (J = -34 cm(-1)) through the pymca ligand and to a ferromagnetic coupling (J = 71 cm(-1)) through the azide bridging ligands. Complex 6 exhibits a very weak antiferromagnetic coupling through the dicyanamide bridging ligands (J = -5.1 cm(-1)). The magnitudes of the magnetic couplings in complexes 2-5 have been explained on the basis of the overlapping between magnetic orbitals and DFT theoretical calculations.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, magnetic properties and theoretical studies on a one-dimensional polynuclear copper(II) complex [Cu2(mu1,3-SCN)2(mu'1,3-SCN)2(MPyO)2]n

A new one-dimensional polynuclear copper(II) complex [Cu(2)(mu(1,3)-SCN)(2)(mu'(1,3)-SCN)(2)(MPyO)(2)](n)(where MPyO = 4-methylpyridine N-oxide) has been synthesized and its crystal structure determined by X-ray crystallography. In the complex there exist two kinds of bridging coordination modes, namely, mu(1,3)-SCN(-) equatorial-equatorial (EE) bridging ligand and micro'(1,3)-SCN(-) equatorial-axial (EA) bridging ligand. Two micro(1,3)-SCN(-) EE bridging ligands coordinate two copper(II) ions in a binuclear unit, and the S atoms from the micro'(1,3)-SCN(-) EA bridging ligands as axial coordinated atoms link the binuclear units into one-dimensional chains. The ESR spectra have been investigated, and variable temperature (4-300 K) magnetic measurements were analyzed using a binuclear Cu(ii) magnetic interaction formula and indicate the existence of strong antiferromagnetic coupling with 2J=- 216.00 cm(-1) between bridged copper(II) ions. Density functional calculations have been carried out on this binuclear unit, yielding a similar singlet-triplet splitting. The mechanism of strong antiferromangetic interaction is revealed according to the calculations.     

Ligand effects on the ferro- to antiferromagnetic exchange ratio in bis(o-semiquinonato)copper(II)

Heterospin complexes [Cu(SQ)2Py].C7H8, Cu(SQ)2DABCO, and [Cu(SQ)2NIT-mPy].C6H6, where Cu(SQ)2 is bis(3,6-di-tert-butyl-o-benzosemiquinonato)copper(II), DABCO is 1,4-diazabicyclo(2,2,2)octane, and NIT-mPy is the nitronyl nitroxide 2-(pyridin-3-yl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazole-3-oxide-1-oxyl, have been synthesized. The molecules of these complexes have a specific combination of the intramolecular ferro- and antiferromagnetic exchange interactions between the odd electrons of Cu(II) and SQ ligands, characterized by large exchange coupling parameters |J| approximately 100-300 cm(-1). X-ray and magnetochemical studies of a series of mixed-ligand compounds revealed that an extra ligand (Py, NIT-mPy, or DABCO) coordinated to the metal atom produces a dramatic effect on the magnetic properties of the complex, changing the multiplicity of the ground state. Quantum chemical analysis of magnetostructural correlations showed that the energy of the antiferromagnetic exchange interaction between the odd electrons of the SQ ligands in the Cu(SQ)2 bischelate is extremely sensitive to both the nature of the extra ligand and structural distortions of the coordination unit, arising from extra ligand coordination.     

Magnetic properties and crystal structure of a one-dimensional phase of tetrakis(mu2-benzoato-O,O')-bis(dimethyl sulfoxide)dicopper(II)

A new crystalline polymorphic phase of tetrakis(mu2-benzoato-O,O')-bis(dimethyl sulfoxide)dicopper(II) was obtained by direct synthesis, in space group P2(1)/n. The copper coordination is in a slightly distorted square pyramidal geometry with an intramolecular Cu...Cu distance of 2.6494(8) angstroms. The Cu-O distances of the two copper in a dimer are different, giving different chemical environments for each Cu ion. The crystal structure is built up of well-separated stacking columns oriented along the b-axis, with units uniformly spaced, producing a one-dimensional (1-D) zigzag chain through Cu(II)-S...S-Cu(II) interdimer interactions [S...S separation: 3.975(2) angstroms]. Magnetization measurements in the range 2-300 K indicate two magnetic orderings, at low temperature (T < 10 K) a weak ferromagnetic ordering is observed, and above this temperature an antiferromagnetic behavior takes place. ESR spectra at 300 and 77 K of a polycrystalline sample show the characteristic signal of zero-field with D = 0.354 cm(-1), consistent with a ferromagnetic Cu...Cu exchange interaction at low temperature.     

Copper(II) azide complexes of aliphatic and aromatic amine based tridentate ligands: novel structure, spectroscopy, and magnetic properties

Copper(II) azide complexes of three tridentate ligands namely 2,6-(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine (L), 2,6-(pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine (L'), and dipropylenetriamine (dpt) yield three kinds of complexes with different azide-binding modes. The ligand L forms two end-on-end (mu-1,3) diazido-bridged binuclear complexes, [CuL(mu-N(3))](2)(ClO(4))(2) (1) and [CuL(mu-N(3))(ClO(4))](2).2CH(3)CN (2), and L' forms a perchlorato-bridged quasi-one-dimensional chain complex, [CuL'(N(3))(ClO(4))](n)() (3) with monodentate azide coordination. The ligation of dipropylenetriamine (dpt) gives a end-on (mu-1,1) diazido-bridged binuclear copper complex [Cu(dpt)(mu-N(3))](2)(ClO(4))(2) (4). The crystal and molecular structures of these complexes have been solved. Variable-temperature EPR results of 1 and 2 are identical and indicate the presence of both ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions within the dimer, the former dominating at low temperatures and the latter at high temperatures. The unusual temperature-dependent magnetic moment and EPR spectra of this dimer reveal the presence of temperature-dependent population of two triplet states, one being caused by antiferromagnetic and the other by ferromagnetic interaction, the former transforming to the latter on cooling. While the interaction of ground spin doublets of the two metal centers gives rise to a ferromagnetic coupling of J(g) = 90.73 cm(-1), the other coupling of J(e) = -185.64 cm(-1) is suggested to be caused by the interaction between an electron in one metal center and an electron from the azide of the other monomer by excitation of a d-electron to the empty ligand orbital. The ferromagnetic state is energetically favored by 104.39 cm(-1). Compound 3 exhibits axial spectra at room temperature and 77 K, and variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility data indicate that the copper centers form a weakly antiferromagnetic one-dimensional chain with J = -0.11 cm(-1). In the case of 4, the unique presence of two nonidentical dimeric units with different bond lengths and bond angles within the unit cell as inferred by crystal structure is proved by single-crystal EPR spectroscopy.     

Combined effects of diamines and carboxylate bridges on structural and magnetic properties of a series of polynuclear copper(II) complexes with 1,1-cyclobutanedicarboxylic acid

Six new copper(II) complexes of formula [Cu(mu-cbdca)(H2O)]n (1) (cbdca = cyclobutanedicarboxylate), [Cu2(mu-cbdca)2(mu-bipy)2]n (2) (bipy = 4,4'-bipyridine), [Cu(mu-cbdca)(mu-bpe)]n (3) (bpe = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane), [Cu(mu-cbdca)(bpy)]2 (4) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine), [Cu(terpy)(ClO4)]2(mu-cbdca).H2O (5) (terpy = 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine), and [Cu(cbdca)(phen) (H2O)].2H2O (6) (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) were obtained and structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. Complex 1 is a two-dimensional network with a carboxylate bridging ligand in syn-anti (equatorial-equatorial) coordination mode. Complexes 2 and 3 are formed by chains through syn-anti (equatorial-apical) carboxylate bridges, linked to one another by the corresponding amine giving two-dimensional nets. Complexes 4 and 5 are dinuclear, with the copper ions linked by two oxo (from two different carboxylate) bridging ligands in 4 and with only one carboxylate showing the unusual bis-unidentate mode in complex 5. Complex 6 is mononuclear, with the carboxylate linked to copper(II) in a chelated form. Intermolecular hydrogen bonds and pi-pi stacking interactions build an extended two-dimensional network. Magnetic susceptibility measurements of complexes 1-5 in the temperature range 2-300 K show the occurrence of weak ferromagnetic coupling for 1 and 4 (J = 4.76 and 4.44 cm(-1), respectively) and very weak antiferromagnetic coupling for 2, 3, and 5 (J = -0.94, -0.67, and -1.61 cm(-1), respectively). Structural features and magnetic values are compared with those reported for the similar copper(II) malonate and phenylmalonate complexes.     

Bis‐copper(II) Complex of Triply‐linked Corrole Dimer and Its Dication

Copper complexes of corroles have recently been a subject of keen interest due to their ligand non‐innocent character and unique redox properties. Here we investigated bis‐copper complex of a triply‐linked corrole dimer that serves as a pair of divalent metal ligands but can be reduced to a pair of trivalent metal ligands. Reaction of triply‐linked corrole dimer 2 with Cu(acac)₂ (acac=acetylacetonate) gave bis‐copper(II) complex 2Cu as a highly planar molecule with a mean‐plane deviation value of 0.020 Å, where the two copper ions were revealed to be divalent by ESR, SQUID, and XPS methods. Oxidation of 2Cu with two equivalents of AgBF₄ gave complex 3Cu , which was characterized as a bis‐copper(II) complex of a dicationic triply‐linked corrole dimer not as the corresponding bis‐copper(III) complex. In accord with this assignment, the structural parameters around the copper ions were revealed to be quite similar for 2Cu and 3Cu . Importantly, the magnetic spin–spin interaction differs depending on the redox‐state of the ligand, being weak ferromagnetic in 2Cu and antiferromagnetic in 3Cu .     

四核铜化合物(Cu4L4)(CH3CN)(H2L=(R)-1-(1-羟基正丁烷-2-氨甲基)萘-2-醇)的合成、晶体结构及磁性质

采用具有手性的席夫碱配体，(R)-1-(1-羟基正丁烷-2-氨甲基)萘-2-醇(H₂L)，和醋酸铜反应得到四核铜的化合物(Cu₄L₄)(CH₃CN)。用X-射线衍射对化合物的晶体结构进行了测定，结果表明此化合物含有4个铜和4个配体，铜通过配位作用和4个氧原子形成类立方烷中心。磁性测定表明此化合物中金属离子之间有弱的反铁磁相互耦合作用。     

New discrete and polymeric supramolecular architectures derived from dinuclear (bis-beta-diketonato)copper(II) metallocycles

New examples of adducts between di- (and, in one instance, tetra-) functional nitrogen ligands and planar 'platform-like' dinuclear copper(II) complexes, [Cu2L2], incorporating the 1,3-aryl linked bis-beta-diketonato bridging ligand 1,1'-(1,3-phenylene)-bis(4,4-dimethylpentane-1,3-dione) (H2L) have been synthesised. The X-ray structures of six adduct species are reported. The interaction of [Cu2(L)2] with the ditopic ligand aminopyrazine (apyz) yielded the sandwich-like tetranuclear species [(Cu2L2(apyz))2]. A variable-temperature magnetochemical investigation of this product indicated weak antiferromagnetic coupling between the (five-coordinate) copper centres, mediated by the 2-aminopyrazine linkers. An analogous structure, [(Cu2L2(dabco))2] (dabco=1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane), was generated when dabco was substituted for aminopyrazine while use of 4,4'-dipyridyl sulfide (dps) and 4,4'-(1,3-xylylene)-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazole) (xbp) as the ditopic 'spacer' ligands resulted in polymeric species of type [Cu2L2(dps)]n and [Cu2L2(xbp)]n, respectively. These latter species exist as one-dimensional chain structures in which copper(II) centres on different dinuclear platforms are linked in a 'zigzag' fashion. In contrast, with 2,2'-dipyridylamine (dpa) a discrete complex of type [Cu2L2(dpa)2] formed in which one potential pyridyl donor from each 2,2'-dipyridylamine ligand remains uncoordinated. The use of the potentially quadruply-bridging hexamethylenetetramine (hmt) ligand as the linker unit was found to give rise to an unusual two-dimensional polymeric motif of type [(Cu2(L2)2)3(hmt)2]n. The product takes the form of a (6,3) network, incorporating triply bridging hexamethylenetetramine units.     

Binuclear copper(II) oxidation products from copper(I) complexes with tridentate ligands. Magnetostructural characterization

The bis-pyridine tridentate ligands (6-R-2-pyridylmethyl)-(2-pyridylmethyl) benzylamine (RDPMA, where R = CH(3), CF(3)), (6-R-2-pyridylmethyl)-(2-pyridylethyl) benzylamine (RPMPEA, where R = CH(3), CF(3)), and the bidentate ligand di-benzyl-(6-methyl-2-pyridylmethyl)amine (BiBzMePMA) have been synthesized and their copper(I) complexes oxidized in a methanol solution to afford self-assembled bis-micro-methoxo-binuclear copper(II) complexes (1, 2, 4, 6) or hydroxo- binuclear copper(II) complexes (3). Oxidation of the nonsubstituted DPMA (R = H) in dichloromethane gives a chloride-bridged complex (5). The crystal structures for [Cu(MeDPMA)(MeO)](2)(ClO(4))(2) (1), [Cu(RPMPEA)(MeO)](2)(ClO(4))(2) (for 2, R= Me, and for 4, R = CF(3)), [Cu(BiBzMePMA)(MeO)](2)(ClO(4))(2) (6), [Cu(FDPMA)(OH)](2)(ClO(4))(2) (3), and [Cu(DPMA)(Cl)](2)(ClO(4))(2) (5) have been determined, and their variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility has been measured in the temperature range of 10-300 K. The copper coordination geometries are best described as square pyramidal, except for 6, which is square planar, because of the lack of one pyridine ring in the bidentate ligand. In 1-4 and 6, the basal plane is formed by two pyridine N atoms and two O atoms from the bridging methoxo or hydroxo groups, whereas in 5, the bridging Cl atoms occupy axial-equatorial sites. Magnetic susceptibility measurements show that the Cu atoms are strongly coupled antiferromagnetically in the bis-methoxo complexes 1, 2, 4, and 6, with -2J > 600 cm(-)(1), whereas for the hydroxo complex 3, -2J = 195 cm(-)(1) and the chloride-bridged complex 5 shows a weak ferromagnetic coupling, with 2J = 21 cm(-)(1) (2J is an indicator of the magnetic interaction between the Cu centers).     

Dinuclear Mesogens with Antiferromagnetic Properties

Herein, two new groups of isomeric bimetallic nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes containing pyrazine or pyrimidine rings are synthesized and examined. The complexes exhibit liquid‐crystalline columnar phases in a broad temperature range. For the copper(II) complexes, super‐exchange coupling between two Cu^II ions is observed. For the pyrimidine derivative in which the paramagnetic Cu^II ions are separated only by three atoms, an antiferromagnetic spin alignment is detected. When the distance between Cu^II ions increases to four atoms in the pyrazine derivative, the magnetic interaction becomes significantly weaker.     

Synthesis and characterisation of new copper(II) coordination polymers constructed from pyrazine–tetrazole ligands with the formation of a water cluster

Three novel bis-tetrazole ligands (1–3) containing carboxylate functional groups on the tetrazole rings and a rigid pyrazine linker unit, for the construction of coordination polymers when coordinated to copper(II) ions, were synthesised and structurally characterised. The use of pyrazine as a rigid linker between the two tetrazole units was expected to increase the dimensionality of the solid phase polymeric network of the resulting copper(II)-containing compounds. X-ray structures of the ligands revealed the effect of the substitution position on the tetrazole ring of the ester/carboxylate groups. Higher solid phase dimensionality was successfully achieved as shown by the layered two-dimensional (2-D) coordination structure being formed when the pyrazine bis-tetrazole systems were reacted with copper(II) chloride, although not in the expected manner. There was no interaction between the pyrazine nitrogen atoms and the metal ion. Computational studies showed that this was probably due to the geometry, required by the copper ion, to be involved in the close packing between the layers. The 2-D coordination polymer based on the asymmetric substituted pyrazine bis-tetrazole, [Cu(4)(H₂O)](H₂O)₂, was further connected into a three-dimensional (3-D) coordination network through hydrogen bonding between H₂O molecules. These H₂O molecules were connected as a unique 1-D chain throughout the structure.     

Rare example of mu-nitrito-1kappa2O,O':2kappaO coordinating mode in copper(II) nitrite complexes with monoanionic tridentate Schiff base ligands: structure, magnetic, and electrochemical properties

Three new copper(II) complexes, [CuL(1)(NO(2))](n) (1), [CuL(2)(NO(2))] (2), and [CuL(3)(NO(2))] (3), with three similar tridentate Schiff base ligands [HL(1) = 6-amino-3-methyl-1-phenyl-4-azahept-2-en-1-one, HL(2) = 6-amino-3-methyl-1-phenyl-4-azahex-2-en-1-one, and HL(3) = 6-diethylamino-3-methyl-1-phenyl-4-azahex-2-en-1-one] have been synthesized and characterized structurally and magnetically. In all three complexes, the tridentate Schiff base ligand and one oxygen atom of the nitrite ion constitute the equatorial plane around Cu(II), whereas the second oxygen atom of the nitrite ligand coordinates to one of the axial positions. In 1, this axially coordinated oxygen atom of the nitrite ligand also coordinates weakly to the other axial position of a Cu(II) ion of another unit to form a one-dimensional chain with the mu-nitrito-1kappa(2)O,O':2kappaO bridging mode. Complexes 2 and 3 are discrete monomers that are joined together by intermolecular H bonds and C-H....pi interactions in 2 and by only C-H....pi interactions in 3. A weak antiferromagnetism (J = -1.96(2) cm(-1)) is observed in complex 1 due to its asymmetric nitrite bridging. Complexes 2 and 3 show very weak antiferromagnetic interactions (J = -0.089 and -0.096 cm(-1), respectively) attributed to the presence of intermolecular H-bonding and C-H....pi interactions. The corresponding Cu(I) species produced by the electrochemical reduction of complexes 1 and 2 disproportionate to Cu(0) and Cu(2+,) whereas the reduced Cu(I) species of complex 3 seems to be stable presumably due to a higher tetrahedral distortion of the equatorial plane in 3 compared to that in 1 and 2.     

Synthesis,spectral, magnetic,electrochemical and kinetic studies of copper(II), nickel(II) and zinc(II) complexes derived from a phenol-based unsymmetrical “end-off” ligand

A new unsymmetrical end-off, aminomethylated N-methylpiperazine and aminomethylated diethanolamine armed binucleating ligand, 2-[bis(2-hydroxyethyl)aminomethyl]-6-[(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)methyl]-4-formylphenol (HL), was synthesized by following sequential aromatic Mannich reactions. Mononuclear and binuclear Cu(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) complexes were synthesized and characterized by elemental and spectral analysis. The EPR spectrum of the mononuclear copper complex shows four hyperfine splittings and the binuclear complex shows a broad signal due to anti-ferromagnetic interaction. The room temperature magnetic moment of the mono and binuclear copper complexes are 1.72 and 2.68 BM, respectively. Variable temperature magnetic moment study of the binuclear copper(II) complex shows weak antiferromagnetic coupling (?2J value, 21 cm^?1). The mononuclear Ni(II) complex is square planar and diamagnetic. The six-coordinate binuclear Ni(II) complex shows a magnetic moment of 3.06 BM. Electrochemical studies of the complexes reveal that all mononuclear complexes show a single irreversible one-electron reduction wave and the binuclear complexes show two irreversible one-electron reduction waves in the cathodic region. Catecholase activity of copper(II) complexes using pyrocatechol as a model substrate and the hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenylphosphate using copper(II), nickel(II) and zinc(II) complexes as catalysts showed that binuclear complexes have higher rate constants than corresponding mononuclear complexes.     

Intrinsic carrier doping in antiferromagnetically interacted supramolecular copper complexes with (pyrazino)tetrathiafulvalene (pyra-TTF) as the ligand, [CuIICl2(pyra-TTF)] and (pyra-TTF)2[CuI3Cl4(pyra-TTF)

New supramolecular copper complexes with pyrazinotetrathiafulvalene (pyra-TTF) as the ligand, [Cu(II)Cl2(pyra-TTF)] (1) and (pyra-TTF) 2[Cu(I)3Cl4(pyra-TTF)] (2), have been synthesized by the diffusion method. Complex 1 is a black block crystal with a three-dimensional (3-D) supramolecular network; the linear chain [-Cu(II)Cl2-(pyra-TTF)-] n extends along the b axis, where the coordinated pyra-TTF donors are stacked in a head-to-tail and ring-over-bond configuration to construct two-dimensional (2-D) sheets, and between the sheets, there are C...Cl(-) or H...Cl(-) contacts. Even though the electron spin resonance (ESR) measurement reveals the nearly Cu(II) state, complex 1 is a semiconductor with sigmaRT=1.0 x 10(-4) S cm(-1) and Ea=0.33 eV. The high-frequency conductivity measurement also confirmed the intrinsic slight carrier doping from Cu(II) to the pyra-TTF donor. This slight doping enhances not only the real and imaginary dielectric constants but also the antiferromagnetic interaction between Cu(II) spins following the 2-D Heisenberg model with 2J=-20 K. In contrast, complex 2 is a very thin black needle. This needle crystal has two crystallographically independent pyra-TTF molecules, which are coordinated and noncoordinated donors. The coordinated donors composed a supramolecular chain [Cu(I)3Cl4(pyra-TTF)(0)]n , whereas the noncoordinated donors formed conducting alpha'-type pyra-TTF(+0.5) sheets. This complex is semiconducting with sigmaRT=0.1 S cm(-1) and Ea=0.15 eV. Both complexes 1 and 2 demonstrate that the pyra-TTF molecule works not only as an oxidized donor by Cu(II) to construct conducting sheets but also as a ligand coordinated to a Cu cation to form supramolecuar chains.     

Oxidative double dehalogenation of tetrachlorocatechol by a bio-inspired CuII complex: formation of chloranilic acid

Copper(II) complexes of the potentially tripodal N,N,O ligand 3,3-bis(1-methylimidazol-2-yl)propionate (L1) and its conjugate acid HL1 have been synthesised and structurally and spectroscopically characterised. The reaction of equimolar amounts of ligand and CuII resulted in the complexes [Cu(L1)]n(X)n (X=OTf-, PF6(-); n=1,2), for which a new bridging coordination mode of L1 is inferred. Although these complexes showed moderate catecholase activity in the oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol, surprising reactivity with the pseudo-substrate tetrachlorocatechol was observed. A chloranilato-bridged dinuclear CuII complex was isolated from the reaction of [Cu(L1)]n(PF6)n with tetrachlorocatechol. This stoichiometric oxidative double dehalogenation of tetrachlorocatechol to chloranilic acid by a biomimetic copper(II) complex is unprecedented. The crystal structure of the product, [Cu2(ca)Cl2(HL1)2], shows a bridging bis-bidentate chloranilato (ca) ligand and ligand L1 coordinated as its conjugate acid (HL1) in a tridentate fashion. Magnetic susceptibility studies revealed weak antiferromagnetic coupling (J= -35 cm(-1)) between the two copper centres in the dinuclear complex. Dissolution of the green complex [Cu2(ca)Cl2(HL1)2] resulted in the formation of new pink-purple mononuclear compound [Cu(ca)(HL1)(H2O)], the crystal structure of which was determined. It showed a terminal bidentate chloranilato ligand and N,N-bidentate coordination of ligand HL1, which illustrates the flexible coordination chemistry of ligand L1.     

Heterotrimetallic 4f-3d coordination polymers: synthesis, crystal structure, and magnetic properties

A series of cyano-bridged heterotrimetallic complexes [CuL](2)Ln(H(2)O)(2)M(CN)(6).7H(2)O have been synthesized by the reactions of CuL (L(2)(-) = dianion of 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotradecane-2,3-dione), Ln(3+) (Ln = Gd or La), and [M(CN)(6)](3)(-) (M = Co, Fe, or Cr). X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that these complexes are isostructural and have a novel chain structure. The Ln(3+) ion is eight-coordinated by six oxygen atoms of two CuL and two water molecules and two nitrogen atoms of the bridging cyano ligands of two [M(CN)(6)](3)(-), while the [M(CN)(6)](3)(-) anion connects two Ln(3+) using two trans-CN(-) ligands giving rise to a chainlike structure. In the chain, every CuL group tilts toward the CN(-) ligand of adjacent [M(CN)(6)](3)(-) with the Cu-N(cyano) contacts ranging from 2.864(6) to 2.930(6) A. Magnetic studies on the CuGdCo complex (1) indicate the presence of ferromagnetic coupling between Cu(II) and Gd(III). The CuLaCr (5) and CuLaFe (2) complexes exhibit ferromagnetic interaction between paramagnetic Cu(II) and Cr(III)/Fe(III) ions through the weak cyano bridges (Cu-N(cyano) = 2.930(6) A for 2). A global ferromagnetic interaction is operative in the CuGdFe complex (3) with the concurrence of dominant ferromagnetic Cu(II)-Gd(III) and minor antiferromagnetic Gd(III)-Fe(III) as well as the ferromagnetic Cu(II)-Fe(III) interaction. For the CuGdCr complex (4), an overall antiferromagnetic behavior was observed, which is attributed to the presence of dominant antiferromagnetic Cr(III)-Gd(III) coupling and the minor ferromagnetic Cu(II)-Gd(III) and Cu(II)-Cr(III) interaction. Moreover, a spin frustration phenomenon was found in complex 4, which results from the ferro-ferro-antiferromagnetic exchanges in the trigonal Cu-Gd-Cr units. The magnetic susceptibilities of these complexes were simulated using suitable models. The magneto-structural correlation was investigated. These complexes did not show a magnetic phase transition down to 1.8 K.     

Cu-Pd-Cu and Cu-Pt-Cu linear frameworks: synthesis, magnetic properties, and theoretical analysis of two mixed-metal complexes of dipyridylamide (dpa), isostructural, and isoelectronic with [Cu3(dpa)4Cl2]+

The synthesis and crystal structure of two heteronuclear compounds stabilized by four dipyridylamide (dpa) ligands is reported. Cu2Pd(dpa)4Cl2 (1) and Cu2Pt(dpa)4Cl2 (2) exhibit an approximate D4 symmetry and a linear metal framework. They are structurally similar to the homotrinuclear complexes M3(dpa)4L2 already characterized with various transition metals (M=Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Rh, Ru). With 26 metal valence electrons, they are also isoelectronic to the oxidized form of the tricopper complex [Cu3(dpa)4Cl2]+ (3), previously characterized and investigated by Berry et al.10 The magnetic properties and the EPR spectra of 1 and 2 are reported. The results for 1 are interpreted in terms of a weak antiferromagnetic interaction (2J=-7.45 cm(-1) within the framework of the Heisenberg Hamiltonian H=-2JAB ?A?B) between the Cu(II) magnetic centers. For 2, the antiferromagnetic interaction sharply decreases to <1 cm(-1). These properties are at variance with those of (3), for which a relatively strong antiferromagnetic interaction (2J=-34 cm(-1)) had been reported. DFT/UB3LYP calculations reproduce the decrease of the magnetic interaction from 3 to 1 and assign it to the role of the nonmagnetic metal in the transference of the superexchange coupling. However, the vanishing of the magnetic interaction in 2 could not be reproduced at this level of theory and is tentatively assigned to spin-orbit coupling.     

Metal-Bonded Redox-Active Triarylamines and Their Interactions: Synthesis,Structure, and Redox Properties of Paddle-Wheel Copper Complexes

Four new triphenylamine ligands with different substituents in the para position and their corresponding copper(II) complexes are reported. This study includes their structural, spectroscopic, magnetic, and electrochemical properties. The complexes possess a dinuclear copper(II) paddle-wheel core, a building unit that is also common in metal-organic frameworks. Electrochemical measurements demonstrate that the triphenylamine ligands and the corresponding complexes are susceptible to oxidation, resulting in the formation of stable radical cations. The square-wave voltammograms observed for the complexes are similar to those of the ligands, except for a slight shift in potential. Square-wave voltammetry data show that, in the complexes, these oxidations can be described as individual one-electron processes centered on the coordinated ligands. Spectroelectrochemistry reveals that, during the oxidation of the complexes, no difference can be detected for the spectra of successively oxidized species. For the absorption bands of the oxidized species of the ligands and complexes, only a slight shift is observed. ESR spectra for the chemically oxidized complexes indicate ligand-centered radicals. The copper ions of the paddle-wheel core are strongly antiferromagnetic coupled. DFT calculations for the fully oxidized complexes indicate a very weak ferromagnetic coupling between the copper ions and the ligand radicals, whereas a very weak antiferromagnetic coupling is found among the ligand radicals.     

Copper(II) complexes with new polypodal ligands presenting axial-equatorial phenoxo bridges {2-[(bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amino)methyl]-4-methylphenol, 2-[(bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amino)methyl]-4-methyl-6-(methylthio)phenol}: examples of ferromagnetically coupled bi- and trinuclear copper(II) complexes

Two new ligands, 2-[(bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amino)methyl]-4-methylphenol (HL) and 2-[(bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amino)methyl]-4-methyl-6-(methylthio)phenol (HSL), were synthesized and were used to prepare the trinuclear copper(II) complex {[CuSL(Cl)]2Cu}(PF6)2.H2O (1) and the corresponding binuclear complexes [Cu2(SL)2](PF6)2 (2) and [Cu2L2](PF6)2 (3). The crystal structure of 1 shows two different coordination environments: two square base pyramidal centers (Cu1 and Cu1a, related by a C2 axes), acting as ligands of a distorted square planar copper center (Cu2) by means of the sulfur atom of the SCH3 substituent and the bridging phenoxo oxygen atom of the ligand (Cu2-S = 2.294 A). Compounds 2 and 3 show two equivalent distorted square base pyramidal copper(II) centers, bridged in an axial-equatorial fashion by two phenoxo groups, thus defining an asymmetric Cu2O2 core. A long copper-sulfur distance measured in 2 (2.9261(18) A) suggests a weak bonding interaction. This interaction induces a torsion angle between the methylthio group and the phenoxo plane resulting in a dihedral angle of 41.4(5) degrees. A still larger distortion is observed in 1 with a dihedral angle of 74.0(6) degrees. DFT calculations for 1 gave a ferromagnetic exchange between first neighbors interaction, the calculated J value for this interaction being +11.7 cm-1. In addition, an antiferromagnetic exchange for 1 was obtained for the second neighbor interaction with a J value of -0.05 cm-1. The Bleaney-Bowers equation was used to fit the experimental magnetic susceptibility data for 2 and 3; the best fit was obtained with J values of +3.4 and -16.7 cm-1, respectively. DFT calculations for 2 and 3 confirm the nature and the values of the J constants obtained by the fit of the experimental data. ESR and magnetic studies on the reported compounds show a weak exchange interaction between the copper(II) centers. The low values obtained for the coupling constants can be explained in terms of a poor overlap between the magnetic orbitals, due to the axial-equatorial phenoxo bridging mode observed in these complexes.