Syntheses, crystal structures, magnetic properties, and EPR spectra of tetranuclear copper(II) complexes featuring pairs of "roof-shaped" Cu2X2 dimers with hydroxide, methoxide, and azide bridges

Hydroxo- and methoxo-bridged tetranuclear copper(II) complexes of the tetramacrocyclic ligand 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(1,4,7-triazacyclonon-1-ylmethyl)benzene (Ldur), have been prepared from Cu4Ldur(H2O)8](ClO4)8.9H2O (1). Addition of base to an aqueous solution of 1 gave Cu4Ldur(mu2-OH)4](ClO4)4 (2). Diffusion of MeOH into a DMF solution of 2 produces Cu4Ldur(mu2-OMe)4](ClO4)4.HClO4.2/3MeOH (3), a complex which hydrolyzes on exposure to moisture regenerating 2. The structurally related azido-bridged complex, Cu4Ldur(mu2-N3)4](PF6)4.4H2O.6CH3CN (4), was produced by reaction of Ldur with 4 molar equiv of Cu(OAc)2.H2O and NaN3 in the presence of excess KPF6. Compounds 2-4 crystallize in the triclinic space group P1 (No. 2) with a = 10.248(1) A, b = 12.130(2) A, c = 14.353(2) A, alpha = 82.23(1) degrees, beta = 80.79(1) degrees, gamma = 65.71(1) degrees, and Z = 1 for 2, a = 10.2985(4) A, b = 12.1182(4) A, c = 13.9705(3) A, alpha = 89.978(2) degrees, beta = 82.038(2) degrees, gamma = 65.095(2) degrees, and Z = 1 for 3, and a = 12.059(2) A, b = 12.554(2) A, c = 14.051(2) A, alpha = 91.85(1) degrees, beta = 98.22(1) degrees, gamma = 105.62(1) degrees, and Z = 1 for 4. The complexes feature pairs of isolated dibridged copper(II) dimers with "roof-shaped" Cu2(mu2-X)2 cores (X = OH-, OMe-, N3-), as indicated by the dihedral angle between the two CuX2 planes (159 degrees for 2, 161 degrees for 3, and 153 degrees for 4). This leads to Cu.Cu distances of 2.940(4) A for 2, 2.962(1) A for 3, and 3.006(5) A for 4. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate weak antiferromagnetic coupling (J = -27 cm(-1)) for the hydroxo-bridged copper(II) centers in 2 and very strong antiferromagnetic coupling (J = -269 cm(-1)) for the methoxo-bridged copper(II) centers in 3. Pairs of copper(II) centers in 4 display the strongest ferromagnetic interaction (J = 94 cm(-1)) reported thus far for bis(mu2-1,1-azido)-bridged dicopper units. Spectral measurements on a neat powdered sample of 4 at 33.9 GHz or 90 Ghz confirm the spin-triplet ground state for the azido-bridged copper(II) pairs.