Polymorphism and weak antiferromagnetic interactions in dibromo[(−)-sparteine-N,N]copper(II)

Two polymorphic crystal structures of the title compound, dibromo[(−)-sparteine-N,N^′]copper(II), 1, were determined. The structures of two isomorphs of 1, 1a [orthorhombic, P2₁2₁2₁, a=11.0463(9) Å, b=11.9839(15) Å and c=12.7835(19) Å] and 1b [orthorhombic, P2₁2₁2₁, a=7.6779(9) Å, b=12.0927(14) Å and c=18.090(2) Å], are composed of the same basic structural unit, Cu(C₁₅H₂₆N₂)Br₂. The bond distances in the molecular structures of 1a and 1b are identical to each other within the esds. However, there are slight differences in the bond angles around the Cu(II) center and considerable differences in their packing structure. Crystal 1a exhibits weak anti-ferromagnetism (J=−1.89 cm⁻¹) as opposed to the magnetically isolated paramagnetism observed for the analogous dichloro[(−)-sparteine]copper(II), 2. The results of a magneto-structural investigation of 1a and 2, and other supporting evidence, suggest that the pathway for the weak antiferromagnetic super-exchange in 1a might be through a Cu-Br ? Br-Cu contact.