Mixed pseudohalide complexes of copper(II). Crystal and molecular structure of [Cu(N3)(NCS)(tmen)] n and of [Cu(N3)(NCO)(tmen)]2 (tmen = N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine)

The compounds [Cu(N₃)(NSC)(tmen)]_n (1), [Cu(N₃)(NCO)(tmen)]_n (2) and [Cu(N₃)(NCO)(tmen)]₂ (3) (tmen=N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine) were synthesized and studied by i.r. spectroscopy. Single crystals of compounds (1) and (3) were obtained and characterized by X-ray diffraction. The structure of compound (1) consists of neutral chains of copper(II) ions bridged by a single azido ligand showing the asymmetric end-to-end coordination fashion. Each copper ion is also surrounded by the other three nitrogen atoms; two from one N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine and one from a terminal bonded thiocyanate group. Compound (2) decomposes slowly in acetone and the product formed [Cu(N₃)(NCO)(tmen)]₂ (3) crystallizes in the monoclinic system (P2₁). The structure of (3) consists of dimeric units in which the Cu atoms are penta-coordinated and connected by μ(1,3) bridging azido and cyanate ligands. In both cases the five coordinated atoms give rise to a slightly distorted square-based pyramid coordination geometry at each copper ion. The thermal behavior of [Cu(N₃)(NSC)(tmen)]_n (1) and [Cu(N₃)(NCO)(tmen)]_n (2) were investigated and the final decomposition products were identified by X-ray powder diagrams.