Synthesis, structure and magnetic property of a 2D grid-like copper(II) complex with end-on azido and pyrazine bridges

A 2D grid-like copper(II) complex [Cu(N₃)₂(pyz)](pyz = pyrazine) (1) has been synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray analysis and magnetic measurements. The 2D grid-like network of 1 consists of 1D chain of Cu-pyz units connected by end-on azido bridge. 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2 with a = 15.148(6) Å, b = 6.877(2) Å, c = 3.4591(12) Å and Z = 2. The magnetic investigation showed the presence of an antiferromagnetic interaction between the copper(II) ions mainly mediated through pyrazine bridge.     

Structures and magnetic properties of dicopper(II) and dinickel(II) complexes with end-on azido bridges

An asymmetric single EO azido bridged dinuclear copper(II) complex, [Cu₂(dmterpy)₂(μ-1,1-N₃)(N₃)₂] · NO₃ · (H₂O)₂1 [dmterpy = 5,5″-dimethyl-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine], and a double EO azido bridged dinuclear nickel(II) complex, [Ni₂(pbdiim)₄(μ-1,1-N₃)₂] · 2(N₃) · 6(H₂O) 2 [pbdiim = 2-(2′-pyridyl)benzo[1,2-d:4,5-d′]diimidazole], have been synthesized and characterized structurally and magnetically. Compound 1 consists of a single EO azido bridged Cu^II dimer in which each Cu^II ion is five-coordinated in the form of a distorted square-based pyramid. The N_(μ−1,1) atom holds on the apical position of one Cu^II pyramid with an elongated bond length of 2.305 Å and on the basal plane of another distorted Cu^II pyramid with a bond length of 1.991 Å. The Cu-N_(μ−1,1)-Cu angle is 117.4 (2)°. The copper(II) dimer forms a 1 D zig-zag chain via hydrogen bondings between azide ions, water molecules and the nitrate anion. Compound 2 consists of a double EO azido bridged Ni^II dimer with the Ni-N_(μ−1,1)-Ni bond angle of 102.96 (13)°. The coordination geometry of Ni^II is octahedral. Their magnetic properties have been measured in the range from 300 to 2 K and correlated with the molecular structures. Compound 1 shows weak ferromagnetic interactions within the copper(II) dimer (J = 2.88 cm⁻¹), despite the large EO azide bridge angle (117.4 (2)°). The intramolecular coupling between the Ni^II (S = 1) ions in compound 2 was found to be ferromagnetic (J = 27.87 cm⁻¹).     

Crystal structures and magnetic properties of tetranuclear copper(II) complexes of N-(2-hydroxymethylphenyl)salicylideneimine with a defective double-cubane core

Tetranuclear Cu(II) complexes of N-(2-hydroxymethylphenyl)salicylideneimine (H₂L1-H) and its homologues (5-CH₃: H₂L1-Me, 5-Cl: H₂L1-Cl), [Cu(L1-H)]₄ · 3H₂O (1), [Cu(L1-Me)]₄ · 2CH₂Cl₂ (2), and [Cu(L1-Cl)]₄ · 2CH₂Cl₂ (3), have been characterized by X-ray crystal structure analyses and magnetic measurements. The structure analyses revealed that the complexes 1-3 have a defective double-cubane tetra copper(II) core connected by μ₃-alkoxo bridges. The intramolecular Cu?Cu distances are in the range from 5.251(2)-5.256(3) Å for the longest to 3.0518(9)-3.092(2) Å for the shortest. Each Cu(II) ion has a square-pyramidal geometry and the dihedral angles between adjacent Cu(II) basal planes are almost right angles. Magnetic measurements of the present complexes indicate that weak antiferromagnetic interactions (J=−15 to −19 cm⁻¹) between neighboring copper(II) ions are dominant in these tetracopper cores.     

Synthesis and structures of pyridinecarboxylate-containing zinc(II) complexes in dien and tren system

Four new zinc(II) complexes [Zn(dien)(μ-nic)]₂(BPh₄)₂·2CH₃OH (1), {[Zn(dien)(isonic)]BPh₄}_n (2), [Zn(tren)(nic)]BPh₄ (3) and [Zn(tren)(isonic)]BPh₄ (4) (dien/tren = diethylenetriamine/triethylenetriamine, nic/isonic = nicotinate/isonicotinate anion) were synthesized and structurally characterized by IR, ¹H NMR and single crystal X-ray diffraction. In the zinc(II) complexes of dien, both nicotinate and isonicotinate connect the zinc(II) ions via N,O-bis-monodentate mode. Complex 1 contains a centrosymmetric dinuclear unit bridged by two nicotinate anions in anti-parallel way. Complex 2 is characterized by an infinite one-dimensional zigzag chain bridged by isonicotinate anion in an end-to-end mode. The Zn···Zn distance is 6.782 for 1 and 8.805 Å for 2. While in the complexes of tren, both 3 and 4 are mononuclear complexes with nicotinate and isonicotinate coordinated to zinc(II) ion through only one oxygen atom of their carboxylate groups. The zinc(II) ions in all of the four complexes are in a distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry. Complex 3 forms a dinuclear unit and complex 4 forms an infinite 2D sheet structure through intermolecular H-bonds. In all of the crystal lattices, the counterions act to balance the electronic charge at the same time to construct different 3D structures through noncovalent interactions such as C-H···π, N-H···π and van der Waals interactions.     

Structures and magnetic properties of one-dimensional polymers constructed with copper(II) salts and pyridinecarboxamide-type ligands

Three complexes of the composition {[Cu(μ_1,5-dca)₂(mppca)₂] · H₂O}_n (1), [Cu(μ_1,5-dca)₂(nppca)₂]_n (2) and [Cu(μ-Cl)₂(mppca)₂]_n (3) (dca = dicyanamide, ; mppca = N-(4′-methylphenyl)-4-pyridinecarboxamide; nppca = N-(4′-nitrophenyl)-4-pyridinecarboxamide) have been synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray crystallography and magnetic susceptibility studies. Different supramolecular structures of the complexes have been constructed by different non-covalent motifs in the crystalline solids. In complex 1, adjacent copper(II) atoms are connected by double μ_1,5-dca(end-to-end) bridges to form a chain-like structure. The chains are linked by π-π interactions and hydrogen bonds between the ligands and water molecules to form a 3D network. In complex 2, copper(II) atom has a coordination environment similar to 1, but water molecules have not been found. Weak C-H?N hydrogen bonding and π-π interaction yield a 3D supramolecular network which is different from that of complex 1. Complex 3 is a 1D polymeric chain in which Cu(II) ions are bridged by Cl⁻, and only CH/π interactions had been found. Magnetic measurements revealed antiferromagnetic properties of 1, 3 and ferromagnetic behavior of 2.     

Synthesis, crystal structures and magnetic studies of terephthalato- and fumarato-bridged dinickel(II) complexes with tripodal poly-benzimidazole ligand

Two novel dinuclear nickel(II) complexes [Ni₂(ntb)₂(μ-tp)(H₂O)_1.61(CH₃OH)_0.39](NO₃)₂·5.13CH₃OH·2.25H₂O (1) and [Ni₂(ntb)₂(μ-fum)(H₂O)(CH₃OH)](NO₃)₂·6CH₃OH·H₂O (2) (tp = terephthalate dianion, fum = fumarate dianion, ntb = tris(2-benzimidazolylmethyl)amine) containing tetradentate poly-benzimidazole ligand were synthesized and structurally characterized by IR spectra, UV-Vis, elemental analysis and X-ray crystallography. The Ni(II) ions in 1 and 2 have distorted octahedral geometry with four nitrogen atoms of ntb, one oxygen atom of water and one oxygen atom supplied by the carboxylate group of the bridged dicarboxylato ligand. Complexes 1 and 2 consist of terephthalato- and fumarato-bridged dinickel(II) centers in bis(monodentate) bonding fashion. The Ni?Ni distances are 11.333 Å for 1 and 8.966 Å for 2. The magnetic susceptibility measurements at variable temperature show that two complexes exhibit weak antiferromagnetic interactions between nickel(II) ions with J values of −0.25 cm⁻¹ and −0.36 cm⁻¹, respectively.     

Synthesis, structures and properties of macrocyclic nickel(II) supramolecules with imidazole pendants

Two new nickel(II) complexes with the composition [Ni(L+H)(CH₃CN)₂](ClO₄)₃ (1) and [Ni(L)(tp)]·6H₂O (2), (L = 3,10-bis{3-(1-imidazolyl)propyl}-1,3,5,8,10,12-hexaazacyclotetradecane, tp = terephthalate) have been synthesized and structurally characterized by a combination of analytical, spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction methods. The structure of 1 consists of monomeric cations of the formula [Ni(L+H)(CH₃CN)₂]³⁺ and perchlorate ions. The nickel(II) ion is six-coordinate with bonds to the four nitrogen atoms of the macrocycle and two nitrogen atoms of the axial acetonitrile ligands. One of the protonated imidazole pendants of the macrocycle is hydrogen bonded to the imidazole group of the neighboring nickel(II) macrocycle, forming an undulated 1D supramolecule. Then, the two 1D supramolecular chains are further interconnected by C-H···π interactions between the methyl group of the acetonitrile ligand and one of the imidazole groups to form a 2D double stranded supramolecular polymer. In the structure of 2, the 1D coordination polymer is formed with nickel(II) macrocycles and bridging terephthalate ions, where each 1D chain is interconnected with π-π interactions of pendant imidazole moieties of the macrocycles, resulting in the formation of a 2D supramolecule.     

Synthesis, crystal structures and properties of novel zinc(II) and cadmium(II) polymeric and cyclic bimetallic complexes with fluconazole and dicarboxylate co-ligands

Four new fluconazole-bridged zinc(II) and cadmium(II) complexes with dicarboxylate co-ligands, namely [Zn(HFlu)(TPA)]_n (1), {[Cd(HFlu)₂(TPA)]·2CH₃OH}_n (2), [Zn(HFlu)₂(Suc)(H₂O)₂]·H₂O (3), and [Cd(HFlu)₂(Suc)(H₂O)₂]·H₂O (4), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, TG, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (HFlu = 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,3-bis(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-propan-2-ol, H₂TPA = terephthalic acid, and H₂Suc = succinic acid). Complex 1 displays a 2-D corrugated network with common (4,4) topology, in which two types of grids constructed by two bridging TPA dianions and two HFlu ligands are found. Complex 2 shows an unusual (3,6) coordination layer consisting of alternative PMPM Cd-HFlu helical chains in which the Cd(II) nodes are also fixed by terephthalate dianions in a cis fashion. The isostructural complexes 3 and 4 have 20-membered dimeric macrocyclic motifs with the Zn···Zn and Cd···Cd distances of 11.258(2) and 11.528(2) Å, respectively. The fluorescence and thermal stability of complexes 1-4 have also been investigated.     

Transition metal complexes based on pyridine ligand containing both bis(2-pyridyl) and 1,3-dithiole-2-ylidene units: Syntheses, structures, and magnetic studies

Two new mononuclear spin-crossover iron(II) complexes, [FeL₂(NCS)₂] · H₂O (1) and [FeL₂(NCSe)₂] (2), have been synthesized from the reaction of the versatile ligand 4,5-bis(2-cyanoethylthio)-2-bis(2-pyridyl)methylene-1,3-dithiole (L), Fe(ClO₄)₂, and KNCX (X = S/Se). Reactions of L with Cu^II or Co^II salts afford one mononuclear complex [CuL(hfac)₂] · CH₃OH (hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetonate) (3), one dinuclear complex [(CuLCl)₂(μ-Cl)₂] · CH₃OH (4), and two 1D chain species, [CuL₂]_n(BF₄)_2n (5) and [CoL₂]_n(ClO₄)_2n · 2nCH₂Cl₂ (6). The crystal structures of complexes 1 and 3-6 have been determined by X-ray crystallography. Short intermolecular S?S contacts between neighboring 1D arrays are observed in 5 and 6, which lead to the formation of the 2D structure. The magnetic properties are studied, and antiferromagnetic couplings between the Cu^II centers across the chloride bridges have been found in 4 (J = 2.04 cm^-1). Spin-crossover behaviors between high and low spin states are observed at T_1/2 = 80 K for 1 and T_1/2 = 300 K for 2, respectively.     

Cobalt(II) and nickel(II) coordination polymers constructed from P,P′-diphenylmethylenediphosphinic acid (H2pcp) and 4,4′-bipyridine (bipy): Structural isomerism in [Co(pcp)(bipy)0.5(H2O)2]

The P,P′diphenylmethylenediphosphinic acid (H₂pcp) reacts with Co(ClO₄)₂ · 6H₂O and 4,4′-bipyridine to give a mixture of two polymeric isomers of formula [Co(pcp)(bipy)_0.5(H₂O)₂], {red (1) and pink (2)} and the new violet hybrid [Co(Hpcp)₂] (3). The pure red and violet species have been obtained by the reaction of H₂pcp with Co(CH₃COO)₂ · 4H₂O and bipy or with Co(ClO₄)₂ · 6H₂O, respectively. The analogous reaction of Ni(CH₃COO)₂ · 4H₂O or Ni(ClO₄)₂ · 6H₂O with H₂pcp and bipy affords only the [Ni(pcp)(bipy)_0.5(H₂O)₂] species (4). The two cobalt isomers present different structural arrangements. Whereas the red isomer (1) shows an undulated 2D layered structure, the pink one (2) forms an infinite monodimensional strand. Both the architectures extend to higher dimensions through hydrogen bonding interactions. The nickel derivative is isomorphous with the red cobalt isomer. The violet [Co(Hpcp)₂] (3), which is isomorphous with the complexes of the reported series [M(Hpcp)₂], M = Ca(II), Mg(II), presents a monodimensional polymeric structure. Compounds 1 and 4 show a very similar thermal behaviour, the two water molecules being lost in the temperature range 25-150 and 160-320 °C, respectively. Temperature dependent X-ray powder diffractometry (TDXD) has been performed on compound 1 in order to follow the structural transformations that occur during the heating process.     

Synthesis, crystal structures, and magnetic properties of new tetranuclear Cu(II) complexes of bis-bidentate Schiff-base ligands

Two tetranuclear copper(II) complexes with long rigid Schiff-base ligands [Cu₄(bmsbd)₂]·2DMF [H₂bmsbd = N,N′-bis-(3-methoxy-salicylidene)benzene-1,4-diamine] (1) and [Cu₄(besbd)₂]·DMF·5H₂O [H₂besbd = N,N′-bis-(3-methoxy-salicylidene)benzene-1,4-diamine] (2) have been synthesised and characterized. Single X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that both complexes exhibit interesting [2 × 2] molecular grid-like configuration assembled by four organic ligands in a head-to-tail mode to bind four copper(II) ions. Magnetic property investigations reveal weak antiferromagnetic interaction viaσ-bond pathway of long rigid Schiff-base ligand between the neighboring copper(II) ions in both complexes.     

Binuclear manganese(III) complexes of an unsymmetric pyrazolate-based compartmental ligand with hard donor set

The synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties of manganese(III) binuclear complexes [Mn^III₂(L-3Н)₂(CH₃ОH)₄]·2CH₃ОH (1) and [Mn^III₂(L-3Н)₂(Py)₄]·2Py (2) (L = 3-[(1E)-N-hydroxyethanimidoyl]-4-methyl-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxylic acid) are reported. The ligand contains two distinct donor compartments formed by the pyrazolate-N and the oxime or the carboxylic groups. The complexes were characterized by X-ray single crystal diffraction, revealing that both 1 and 2 consist of dinuclear units in which the two metal ions are linked by double pyrazolate bridges with a planar {Mn₂N₄} core. Cryomagnetic measurements show antiferromagnetic interaction with g = 1.99, J = −3.6 cm⁻¹, Θ = −2.02 K for 1 and g = 2.00, J = −3.7 cm⁻¹, Θ = 1.43 K for 2.     

A series of metal-organic frameworks constructed with 2,2′-bipyridine-3,3′-dicarboxylate: Syntheses, structures, and physical properties

To determine the influence of metal ion and the auxiliary ligand on the formation of metal-organic frameworks, six new coordination polymers, {[Mn₂(bpdc)(bpy)₃(H₂O)₂] · 2ClO₄ · H₂O}_n (1), {[Mn(bpdc)(dpe)] · CH₃OH · 2H₂O}_n (2), {[Cu(bpdc)(H₂O)₂]}_n (3), {[Zn(bpdc)(H₂O)₂]}_n (4), {[Cd(bpdc)(H₂O)₃] · 2H₂O}_n (5), and {[Co(bpdc)(H₂O)₃] · 0.5dpe · H₂O}_n (6) (H₂bpdc = 2,2′-bipyridine-3,3′-dicarboxylic acid, bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine, dpe = 1,2-di(4-pyridyl) ethylene), have been synthesized and characterized. Compound 1 forms 1D helical chain structure containing two unique Mn^II ions. In 2, the bridging ligand dpe links Mn-bpdc double zigzag chains to generate a layer possesses rectangular cavities. In 3, bpdc²⁻ ligand connects to three metal centers forming a 2D network. Different from the above compounds, 4 displays a 1D double-wavelike chain. Compound 5 features a helical chain. Compound 6 also displays a helical chain with guest molecule dpe existing in the structure. These diverse structures illustrate rational adjustment of metal ions and the second ligand is a good method for the further design of helical compounds with novel structures and properties. In addition, the magnetic properties of 2, 3 and 6, the thermal stabilities and photoluminescence properties of 4 and 5 were also studied.     

A trinuclear copper(II) complex with 2,5-pyridine-dicarboxylato bridges - [Cu3(2,5-pydc)2(Me5dien)2(H2O)2(BF4)2] · H2O: Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties

A trinuclear copper(II) complex, [Cu₃(2,5-pydc)₂(Me₅dien)₂(BF₄)₂(H₂O)₂] · H₂O 1, has been constructed from 2,5-pyridine-dicarboxylato bridges (2,5-pydc²⁻) and N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentamethyl-diethylenetriamine (Me₅dien) acting as a blocking ligand. The copper ions, within the centrosymmetric trinuclear cations, are connected by two 2,5-pydc²⁻ bridges, with an intramolecular Cu···Cu separation of 8.432 Å. The central copper ion exhibits an elongated octahedral geometry, with semicoordinated ions, while the terminal ones are pentacoordinated (distorted square-pyramidal geometry). The cryomagnetic investigation of 1 reveals an antiferromagnetic coupling of the copper(II) ions (J = −5.9 cm⁻¹, H = −JS_Cu1S_Cu2 − JS_Cu2S_Cu1a).     

Syntheses, structures, and magnetic properties of three Fe(II) complexes with reduced radical ligands

Three new Fe(II) complexes [Fe(HIM2py)₂(SCN)₂] (1), [Fe(HIM2py)₂(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂ · 2H₂O (2), and [Fe(HIM2py)₂(4,4-bipy)](ClO₄)₂ · 3CH₃CH₂OH (3) (4,4-bipy = 4,4′-bipyridine, HIM2py = 1-hydroxyl-2(2′-pyridyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazole) have been synthesized and characterized structurally as well as magnetically. The X-ray analysis reveals that HIM2py ligands are coordinated to the metal ions as an unusual six-membered didentate chelate with the κ²N(py), O(HIM) mode. Fe(II) ions in complex 3 are bridged by 4,4-bipy, leading to a 1D chain structure. The magnetic behavior of complex 3 is investigated, showing weak antiferromagnetic interactions.     

Cyanide and imidazolate bridged macrocyclic dinuclear CuII complexes: Synthesis, structure and magnetic properties

Reaction of [Cu₂L](ClO₄)₄ with CH₃CN in acetonitrile, and Him in DMF gave cyanide and imidazolate bridged macrocyclic dinuclear copper (II) complexes with the formula [Cu₂L(CN)](ClO₄)₃ (1) and [Cu₂L(im)](ClO₄)₂ · 0.7Br · 0.3Cl, (2), respectively (L = N[(CH₂)₂NHCH₂(C₆H₄-p)CH₂NH(CH₂)₂]₃N). In 2, each Cu(II) atom is coordinated with four macrocyclic nitrogen atoms and one imidazolate N atom, forming a slightly distorted square pyramidal geometry. Magnetic susceptibility measurements of 1 and 2 show that the two Cu(II) atoms of the binuclear unit are antiferromagnetically coupled with g = 2.148, J = −86.09 cm⁻¹ for 1, and g = 2.047, J = −38.20 cm⁻¹ for 2. The correlation between the structures and the J values is discussed.     

Construction of one-, two- and three-dimensional Cu(I) polymeric architectures containing bis(diphenylphosphino)acetylene and 4,4′-bipyridine linking ligands

One-dimensional {[Cu₂(dppa)₂(4,4′-bipy)(CH₃CN)₂](BF₄)₂ · 2CH₃CN}_n (1), two-dimensional {[Cu₂(dppa)(4,4′-bipy)₂(CH₃CN)₂](BF₄)₂ · 4CH₂Cl₂ · 4H₂O}_n (2) and three-dimensional {[Cu₂(dppa)(4,4′-bipy)₃](BF₄)₂ · 2CH₂Cl₂ · 3CH₃CN · 3H₂O}_n (3) polymeric complexes have been prepared by self-assembly of [Cu(MeCN)₄]BF₄, Ph₂PCCPPh₂ (dppa) and 4,4′-bipyridine (4,4′-bipy) in a 2:2:1, 1:1:1 and 2:2:3 molar ratio, respectively. The structures of 1-3, determined by an X-ray diffraction study, reveal a linear spring-like architecture for 1, a planar honeycomb grid for 2 and an interlocked adamantoid network for 3.     

Copper(II) complexes derived from tripodal tris[(2-ethyl-(1-pyrazolyl)]amine

Three mono-nuclear copper(II) complexes [Cu(tepza)X]ClO₄ (X = Cl, 1; X = NCS, 2; X = dca, 3) and two dinuclear bridging complexes [Cu₂(tepza)₂(μ-C₄O₄)](ClO₄)₂·H₂O(4) and [Cu₂(tepza)₂(μ-C₅O₅)](ClO₄)₂(5) where tepza = tris[2-ethyl(1-pyrazolyl)]amine, dca = dicyanamide, C₄O₄²⁻ = 3,4-dihydroxycyclobut-3-ene-1,2-dionate (squarate dianion) and C₅O₅²⁻ = 4,5-dihydroxycyclopent-4-ene-1,2,3-trionate (croconate dianion) were synthesized and structurally characterized by IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy as well as by single X-ray crystallography. In the solid state, the geometry of copper(II) centers in these complexes are as follows: close to SP in 2, distorted TBP in 3, predominant SP in 4, and distorted octahedral in 5, whereas in solution distorted SP geometry was generally found. The squarato and the croconato dianions in complexes 4 and 5 are bridging the two copper(II) centers in cis-bis-monodentate and bis-bidentate bonding modes, respectively. Magnetic susceptibility measurements at variable temperatures (2-300 K) reveal the weak antiferromagnetic coupling in the two bridging dinuclear complexes 4 (J = −24.9 cm⁻¹) and 5 (J = −3.1 cm⁻¹).     

Magnetic and catalytic properties of a new copper(II)-Schiff base 2D coordination polymer formed by connected helical chains

A dicyanamide bridged 2D polynuclear complex of copper(II) having molecular formula [Cu₂(L)(μ_1,5-dca)₂]_n (1) has been synthesized using the Schiff base ligand N,N′-bis(salicylidene)-1,3-diaminopentane, (H₂L) and sodium dicyanamide (dca). The complex presents a 2D hexagonal structure formed by 1,5-dca singly bridged helical chains connected through double 1,5-dca bridges. The chelating characteristics of the H₂L Schiff base ligand results in the formation of copper(II) dimer with a double phenoxo bridge presenting a very strong antiferromagnetic coupling in the copper(II) derivative (1) (J = −510 cm⁻¹). The dimeric asymmetric unit of 1 is very similar to the active site of the catechol oxidase and, as expected, also presents catalytic activity for the oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol to 3,5-di-tert-butylquinone in presence of O₂, as demonstrated by kinetic studies of this oxidation reaction monitored by absorption spectroscopy resulting in high turnover number (K_cat = 259 h⁻¹).     

Topological control of the spin coupling in dinuclear copper(II) complexes with meta- and para-phenylenediamine bridging ligands

A novel series of copper(II) complexes of formula [Cu(tren)(mpda)](ClO₄)₂ · 1/2H₂O (1), [Cu₂(tren)₂(mpda)](ClO₄)₄ · 2H₂O (2), and [Cu₂(tren)₂(ppda)](ClO₄)₄ · 2H₂O (3) containing the tetradentate tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (tren) terminal ligand and the potentially bridging 1,n-phenylenediamine [n = 3 (mpda) and 4 (ppda)] ligand have been prepared and spectroscopically characterized. X-ray diffraction on single crystals of 1 and 3 show the presence of mono- (1) and dinuclear (3) copper(II) units where the mpda (1) and ppda (3) ligands adopt terminal monodentate (1) and bridging bis(monodentate) (3) coordination modes toward [Cu(tren)]²⁺ cations with an overall non-planar, orthogonal disposition of the phenylene group and the N-Cu-N threefold axis of the trigonal bipyramid of each copper(II) ion [values of the Cu-N-C-C torsion angle (?) in the range of 50.8(3)-79.2(2) (1) and 80.9(2)-86.5(2)° (3)]. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements on the dinuclear complexes 2 and 3 show the occurrence of moderate ferromagnetic (J = +8.3 cm⁻¹, 2) and strong antiferromagnetic (J = −51.4 cm⁻¹, 3) couplings between the two copper(II) ions across the meta- and para-phenylenediamine bridges, leading to S = 1 (2) and S = 0 (3) ground spin states [H = −JS₁ · S₂ with S₁ = S₂ = S_Cu = 1/2]. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations on the triplet (2) and broken-symmetry (BS) singlet (3) ground spin states, support the occurrence of a spin polarization mechanism for the propagation of the exchange interaction through the predominantly π-type orbital pathway of the 1,n-phenylenediamine bridge. Finally, a new magneto-structural correlation between the magnitude of the magnetic coupling (J) and the Cu-N-C-C torsion angle (?) has been found which reveals the role of σ- versus π-type orbital pathways in the modulation of the magnetic coupling for m- and p-phenylenediamine-bridged dicopper(II) complexes.