Different supramolecular hydrogen bond structures and significant changes in magnetic properties in dinuclear mu 2-1,1-N3 copper(II) complexes with very similar tridentate Schiff base blocking ligands

Three new basal-apical, mu(2)-1,1-azide bridged complexes, CuL(1)(N(3))](2) (1), CuL(2)(N(3))](2) (2) and CuL(3)(N(3))](2) (3) with very similar tridentate Schiff base blocking ligands L(1) = N-(3-aminopropyl)salicylaldimine, L(2) = 7-amino-4-methyl-5-azahept-3-en-2-one and L(3) = 8-amino-4-methyl-5-azaoct-3-en-2-one) have been synthesised and their molecular structures determined by X-ray crystallography. In complex 1, there is no inter-dimer H-bonding. However, complexes 2 and 3 form two different supramolecular structures in which the dinuclear entities are linked by strong H-bonds giving one-dimensional systems. Variable-temperature (300-2 K) magnetic susceptibility measurements and magnetization measurements at 2 K reveal that complexes and have antiferromagnetic coupling while has ferromagnetic coupling which is also confirmed by EPR spectra at 4-300 K. Magnetostructural correlations have been made taking into consideration both the azido bridging ligands and the existence of intermolecular hydrogen bonds in complexes 2 and 3.