Abstract: | The first single‐crystal studies of three bis‐transoid Cu–hydroxamate salts, bis(3‐methoxy‐4,N‐dimethylbenzohydroxamato‐O,O′)copper(II), [Cu(C10H12NO3)2], bis(4‐chloro‐N‐methylbenzohydroxamato‐O,O′)copper(II), [Cu(C8H7ClNO2)2], bis(N‐methyl‐3,5‐dinitrobenzohydroxamato‐O,O′)copper(II)–chloroform (1/2), [Cu(C8H6N3O6)2]·2CHCl3, are presented. The Cu atom in each of the title compounds sits at a center of inversion and displays a nearly square‐planar geometry with the hydroxamate‐O atoms connected to it in a syn configuration. The N atoms are in a transoid configuration. Each five‐membered Cu–hydroxamate ring is planar, thus providing evidence that a planar N atom is present in each ring. The phenyl groups are twisted with respect to the hydroxamate group by ~40–54°. The angular strain of the sp2 carbonyl oxygen is significant (~10° from ideal). |