Synthesis and X-ray structures of dinitrato-bis[2-(2′-thienyl)-1-(2′-thienylmethyl)benzimidazole]copper(II) and dichloro-bis-[2-(2′-thienyl)-benzimidazole]copper(II)-ethanol

Summary The reactions of Cu(NO₃)₂ · 3 H₂O with 2- (2-thienyl)-1-(2-thienylmethyl)benzimidazole (L) and of CuCl₂ · 2H₂O with 2-(2-thienyl)benzimidazole (L) have been carried out. The crystal structure of two isolated complexes,(1) and(2), have been determined by single-crystal x-ray diffraction methods. Crystals of(1) are monoclinic, space groupP2₁ /c, witha=9.884(4),b=9.892(4),c=18.732(8) Å, =114.89(2)°,Z=2;R=0.068 for 1909 observed reflections. Crystals of (2) are orthorhombic, space groupPbcn, witha=14.835(1),b=8.193(1),c=20.493(1) Å,Z=4;R=0.086 for 415 observed reflections. In the complex (1) the copper co-ordination is tetragonal (compressed octahedral) and involves a nitrogen atom of the organic ligand Cu-N 1.970(6) Å] and two oxygen atoms of the nitrate group Cu-O 2.318(7) and 2.246(9) Å] which appears to coordinate nearly symmetrically to the metal; however it has unusually large thermal motion which suggests a fluxional behaviour. In the complex (2) the co-ordination is square planar and involves an imidazole nitrogen Cu-N 1.95(3) Å] and a chlorine atom Cu-Cl 2.27(1) Å]. A long interaction Cu-S=3.37(2) Å completes the co-ordination polyhedron to a very elongated distorted tetragonal bipyramid. In both compounds a thiophene ring is disordered.