Crystal structure of an unusual four-coordinated copper(II) complex containing 1,10-o-phenanthroline and salicyclic acid crystal structure containing Cu(II) o-phen and salicyclic acid

We have synthesized a multi-ligand chelate copper(II) complex [Cu · (C₇H₅O₃] · (C₁₂H₈N₂) · H₂O₁ · (C₇H₆O₃)· NO₃, and determined its structure by X-ray diffraction method. The space group of the title compound is P2₁/a. It is monoclinic, with a = 14.227(4), b = 9.627(4), c = 19.008(7) Å, β = 102.06(3)·, Z = 4. The two salicyclic acid molecules in the cell are in different environments, one inner, the other outer. The geometry around Cu(II) is a four-coordinated distorted plane square. The two coordinating atoms are two nitrogen atoms from phenanthroline, one oxygen atom from salicyclic acid, one oxygen atom from water.