Molecular structures and ESR spectra of copper(ii) complexes with 2-hydroxypropiophenone acyldihydrazones

The dinuclear copper(ii) complexes with 2-hydroxypropiophenone acyldihydrazones (H₄L) having the composition [Cu₂L·mPy], where the L ligand contains the polymethylene chain with different lengths (from two to five units), were synthesized and studied. The crystal and molecular structures of the 2-hydroxypropiophenone adipoylhydrazone complex [Cu₂L·4Py]·Py were established by X-ray diffraction analysis. Copper atoms are 8.212 distant from each other, and their nearest environment has the tetragonal pyramidal geometry. The ESR spectra of solutions of the complexes based on acyldihydrazones of succinic, glutaric, and adipic acids contain seven HFS lines with the constant 40·10^–4 cm^–1 from two equivalent copper atoms. The spectra were interpreted as a result of the spin-spin exchange interaction of two unpaired electrons. An increase in the polymethylene chain length to five units prevents exchange interactions. The ESR spectrum of the complex with acyldihydrazone of pimelic acid contains a signal of four HFS lines with a_Cu = 73.4·10^–4 cm^–1, which is typical of mononuclear copper(ii) complexes.