Metal complexes derived from hydrazoneoxime ligands: II. Synthesis,electrospray mass spectra and magnetochemical studies of some copper(II) complexes derived from p-substituted aroylhydrazoneoximes

Mono- and binuclear copper(II) complexes derived from substituted aroylhydrazoneoximes of the general formulae Cu(H₂LR)Cl₂]·nH₂O, Cu(HLR)Cl], {Cu(HLR)}₂]·2NO₃·nH₂O and {Cu(LR)}₂]·nH₂O have been prepared and characterized, where H₂LR, HLR and LR refer, respectively, to the neutral, monoanionic and dianionic ONN tridentate aroylhydrazoneoxime ligands. Electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectra revealed the formation of tri- and tetranuclear copper(II) complexes in dimethylformamide (DMF) or dimethysulphoxide (DMSO) solutions. The effect of substitution in the aroylhydrazone residue on the degree of deprotonation of the ligand and the energies of d–d transitions of the copper(II) complexes have been studied. Tuning of the antiferromagnetic exchange coupling by different substituents in {Cu(HLR)}₂]·2NO₃·nH₂O and {Cu(LR)}₂]·nH₂O complexes have been discussed.