Identification of Cu(II)/Cu(III) couples in binuclear copper(II) complexes

A new series of binuclear copper(II) complexes were synthesised and studied by magnetic, spectral, ESR and cyclic voltammetry methods. The μ_eff values per copper atom correspond to the values observed for mononuclear copper(II) complexes. ESR spectral data in solution indicate weak interactions resulting from the electron delocalisation through the ligand system. Two nearly reversible red-ox couples are identified at $\text{+}\text{?}$0.50 V and $\text{+}\text{?}$0.75 V vs SCE. They correspond to Cu(II)αCu(III) red-ox processes, successively occurring at the two copper sites in the binuclear complexes.