A theoretical analysis of the explanation of the significant differences in antiferromagnetic interactions between homologous μ-alkoxo and acetate bridged dicopper(II) complexes: ab initio and semi-empirical calculations

A magnetostructural classification of dimmers, containing the Cu (μ-alkoxo) Cu core, based on data obtained from X-ray diffraction analysis reported in the literature has been performed. In these complexes, the local geometry around the copper ions is generally a square planar and each copper ion is surrounded by one N atom and three O atoms. The influence of the overlap interactions between the bridging ligands and the metal (Cu) d orbitals on the super-exchange coupling constant has been studied by means of ab initio Restricted Hatree–Fock molecular orbital calculations. The interaction between the magnetic d orbitals and highest occupied molecular orbitals of the acetate oxygens has been investigated in homologous μ-acetato-bridged dicopper(II) complexes which have significantly different ?2J values (the energy separation between the spin-triplet and spin-singlet states). In order to determine the nature of the fronter orbitals, Extended Hückel molecular Orbital calculations are also reported. Ab initio restricted Hartree–Fock calculations have shown that the acetato bridge and the alkoxide bridge contribute to the magnetic interaction countercomplementarily to reduce antiferromagnetic interaction.