Bis[(dihydrogen pyrophosphato‐κ2O,O′)(2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine‐κ3N,N′,N′′)copper(II)] 4.5‐hydrate

The title copper complex, [Cu(H₂P₂O₇)(C₁₅H₁₁N₃)]₂·4.5H₂O, consists of two very similar independent Cu(Tpy)H₂P₂O₇ monomeric units (Tpy is 2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine) plus four and a half water molecules of hydration, some of which are disordered. Tpy units bind through the usual triple bite via their N atoms, and the H₂P₂O₇²⁻ anions coordinate through two O atoms from two different phosphate units. Each independent CuN₃O₂ chromophore can be described as a slightly deformed square pyramid, with one of them having a sixth, semicoordinated, O atom from a centrosymmetrically related CuN₃O₂ unit in a weakly bound second apical position suggesting an octahedral environment for the cation and weak dimerization of the molecule. The two independent complex molecules are connected via two strong O—H...O interactions between the phosphate groups to form hydrogen‐bonded dinuclear units, further linked into [111] columns, resulting in a very complex three‐dimensional supramolecular structure through a variety of classical and nonclassical hydrogen bonds, as well as π–π interactions.