Copper (II)-thiolate complexes with novel tripodal- and tetrapodal-like benzimidazoles

Summary The tripodal copper(II) thiolate complexes Cu(L1)(Cl)-2H₂O and Cu(L1)(mim)(Cl) H(L1) = N-(2-mercaptoethyl)-N,N-bis (pyrid-2-ylmethyl)amine and mim = N-methylimidazole] have been isolated. Both contain monomeric copper(II) and display two ligand field bands and axial cryogenic e.p.r. spectra, suggesting a squarebased geometry. A copper(II) thiolate complex Cu(L2)(Cl)-H₂O H(L2) = N-(2-mercaptoethyl)-N,N,N-tris(benzimidazol-2-ylmethyl)-1,2-ethanediamine] with a CuN₅S chromophore has been also isolated. It exhibits only one ligand field band and an axial cryogenic e.p.r. spectrum, consistent with a distorted tetragonal coordination geometry. All the thiolates display intense S^– Cu^II charge transfer bands in the u.v. region, suggesting equatorial thiolate coordination. All of the complexes exhibit irreversible electrochemical behaviour.