Dinuclear triply-bridged copper(II) compounds containing carboxylato bridges and di-2-pyridylamine as a ligand: synthesis, crystal structure, spectroscopic and magnetic properties

Three new triply-bridged dinuclear copper(II) compounds with carboxylato bridges, [Cu₂(μ-O₂CH)(μ-OH)(μ-Cl)(dpyam)₂](PF₆) (1), [Cu₂(μ-O₂CH)₂(μ-OH)(dpyam)₂](PF₆) (2) and [Cu₂(μ-O₂CCH₂CH₃)₂(μ-OH)(dpyam)₂](ClO₄) (3) (dpyam = di-2-pyridylamine) have been synthesized and characterized crystallographically and spectroscopically. Compound 1 consists of a dinuclear unit in which both copper(II) ions are bridged by three different ligands, i.e., formate, chloride and hydroxide anions, providing a distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry with a CuN₂O₂Cl chromophore. Compounds 2 and 3 have two bridging formato ligands and two bridging propionato ligands, respectively, together with a hydroxo bridge. The carboxylato ligands in both compounds 2 and 3 exhibit different coordination modes. One is in a syn, syn η¹:η¹:μ₂ bridging mode and the other is in a monoatomic bridging mode. The structure of compound 2 involves a dinuclear unit, with a distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry around each Cu(II) ion with a CuN₂O₃ chromophore. Compound 3 contains a non-centrosymmetric unit; the coordination environment around Cu(1) is a distorted square-pyramidal geometry and an intermediate geometry of sp and tbp around the Cu(II) ion. The Cu?Cu separations are 3.061, 3.113 and 3.006 Å for compounds 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The EPR spectra of all three compounds show a broad isotropic signal with a g value around 2.10.The magnetic susceptibility measurements, measured from 5 to 280 K, revealed a moderate ferromagnetic interaction between the Cu(II) ions with a singlet-triplet energy gap (J) of 79.7, 47.8 and 24.1 cm⁻¹, for compounds 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Also a very weak intermolecular antiferromagnetic interaction was observed between the dinuclear units.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, spectroscopic and magnetic properties of doubly and triply bridged dinuclear copper(II) compounds containing di-2-pyridylamine as a ligand

The dihydroxo-bridged dinuclear copper(II) compound [Cu₂(dpyam)₂(μ-OH)₂]I₂ (1) and the triply bridged dinuclear copper(II) compounds with a formato bridge [Cu₂(dpyam)₂(μ-O₂CH)(μ-OH)(μ-OMe)](ClO₄) (2) and [Cu₂(dpyam)₂(μ-O₂CH)(μ-OH)(μ-Cl)](ClO₄) · 0.5H₂O (3) (in which dpyam=di-2-pyridylamine) have been synthesized and their crystal structures determined by X-ray crystallographic methods. All three compounds are either centrosymmetric, or have a symmetry plane in the molecule. Compound 1 contains the [Cu₂(dpyam)₂(μ-OH)₂]⁺ unit and iodide anions. Each copper(II) ion is in a slightly tetrahedrally distorted square planar coordination with the square plane consisting of two nitrogen atoms of the dpyam ligand and two bridging hydroxo groups. The Cu-I distances of 3.321 Å are quite long and only involve a weak semi-coordination. Compound 2 contains a triply bridged dinuclear copper(II) species, the coordination environment around each copper(II) ion involves a distorted trigonal-bipyramidal CuN₂O₃ chromophore. In the dinuclear unit of compound 3, the triply bridged copper(II) ions show a distorted trigonal-bipyramidal coordination of the CuN₂O₂Cl chromophore. The Cu-Cu distances are 2.933(2), 3.023(1) and 3.036(1) Å for compounds 1, 2 and 3, respectively.The magnetic susceptibility measurements, measured from 5 to 280 K, revealed a weak antiferromagnetic interaction between the Cu(II) atoms for compound 1 with a singlet-triplet energy gap (J) of −15.3 cm⁻¹, whereas compounds 2 and 3 are ferromagnetic with J=62.5 and 79.1 cm⁻¹, respectively.     

Synthesis, structure and spectroscopic properties of 2,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)quinoxaline (dppQx) and its copper(I) complexes

Phosphinoquinoxalines were prepared by treatment of 2,3-dichloroquinoxaline (3) with phosphorus nucleophiles. The Arbuzov reaction of 3 with PPh(O-i-Pr)₂ gave a mixture of diastereomers of 2,3-(PPh(O)(O-i-Pr))₂quinoxaline (6); the crystal structure of rac-6 was determined, but attempts at reduction to yield bis(phenylphosphino)quinoxaline 7 resulted in P-C cleavage and formation of phenylphosphine. The bis(secondary phosphine) 7 could be generated from 3 and LiPHPh(BH₃), but was not isolated in pure form. Copper-catalyzed coupling of PHPh₂ with 3 gave 2,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)quinoxaline (4, dppQx), whose coordination chemistry was investigated, with comparison to data for the analogous 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)benzene (dppBz) complexes. Reaction of dppQx with [Cu(NCMe)₄][PF₆] gave [Cu(dppQx)₂][PF₆] (8); CuCl yielded [Cu(dppQx)Cl]₂ (9). Reaction of [Cu(NCMe)₄][PF₆] with one equiv of DPEphos, followed by one equiv of dppQx, gave [Cu(dppQx)(DPEphos)][PF₆] (10). Ligand 4 and copper complexes 8 and 9 were crystallographically characterized. The UV-Vis spectra of dppQx and its copper complexes were red-shifted from those of the dppBz analogs; in contrast to results for the dppBz complexes, those of dppQx were not luminescent in solution.     

Copper(II) nitrato and chloro complexes with sterically hindered tridentate ligands: Influence of ligand framework and charge on their structure and physicochemical properties

Copper(II) coordination complexes of the neutral ligand, tris(3-tert-butyl-5-methyl-1-pyrazolyl)methane (L2′), i.e. the copper(II) nitrato complexes [Cu(L2′)(NO₃)][Cu(NO₃)₄]_1/2 (1) and [Cu(L2′)(NO₃)](ClO₄) (2) and the copper(II) chloro complex [Cu(L2′)(Cl)](ClO₄) (3), and its anionic borate analogue, hydrotris(3-tert-butyl-5-methyl-1-pyrazolyl)borate (L2⁻), i.e. the copper(II) nitrato complex [Cu(L2)(NO₃)] (4) and the copper(II) chloro complex [Cu(L2)(Cl)] (5), were synthesized in order to investigate the influence of ligand framework and charge on their structure and physicochemical properties. While X-ray crystallography did not show any definitive trends in terms of copper(II) atom geometry in four-coordinate copper(II) chloro complexes 3 and 5, different structural trends were observed in five-coordinate copper(II) nitrato complexes 1, 2, and 4. These complexes were also characterized by spectroscopic techniques, namely, UV-Vis, ESR, IR/far-IR, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy.     

Unusual complexation of Cu(I) by pyrimidine/pyridine-pyrazole derived ligands exploiting the molecular function of 2-mercapto-4,6-dimethylpyrimidine - Syntheses, crystal structures and electrochemistry

Reaction of 2 equiv. amount of copper(II) chloride dihydrate with 2 equiv. of methyl-5-methyl-1-(4,6-dimethyl-2-pyrimidyl)pyrazole-3-carboxylate (DpymPzC) in presence of 1 equiv. of 2-mercapto-4,6-dimethylpyrimidine (DpymtH) at pH ∼ 6 afforded the tricoordinated copper(I) complex [Cu(DpymPzC)Cl] (1). The same reaction with copper(II) perchlorate hexahydrate, as the metal salt under the same equivalent ratio at pH ∼ 6 formed the tetracoordinated copper(I) complex [Cu(DpymPzC)₂]ClO₄ (2). In both the cases, the role of DpymtH is nothing but only to reduce the copper(II) salt in situ finally forming the copper(I) complex. On the other hand, the direct reaction between the copper(I) thiocyanate and DpymPzC in 2:2 equiv. ratio produced a tricoordinated copper(I) complex [Cu(DpymPzC)SCN] (3). In a similar reaction of 2 equiv. amount of copper(II) chloride dihydrate with 2 equiv. amount of ethyl-5-methyl-1-(2-pyridyl)pyrazole-3-carboxylate (PyPzC) in presence of 1 equiv. of DpymtH at pH ∼ 6, an intense red coloured microcrystalline compound (4) was obtained. In contrast, 1 equiv. of PyPzC and 2 equiv. of DpymtH on reaction with 1 equiv. of copper(II) chloride dihydrate at pH ∼ 6 produced a novel tetranuclear mixed coordinated [Cu₄(DpymtH)₄Cl₄] complex (5). Here DpymtH plays dual role - a reducing agent for the copper(II) salt followed by a chelating ligand towards copper(I) so formed in situ. Among the above species, 1, 2 and 5 are crystallographically characterized. In 1, the central copper atom is in distorted triangular planar geometry with N₂Cl chromophore whereas in 2, the same is in distorted tetrahedral geometry with N₄ chromophore. Notably, the extent of distortion from the ideal geometry is more in 2. In 5, which is in chair conformation, out of four copper atoms, two being in S₂Cl chromophore are tricoordinated and the remaining two are tetracoordinated with NS₂Cl chromophore. The metal centers are bridged through DpymtH in its ‘thione’ form. Interestingly, the chelation (in part) results in formation of the highly stable four-membered two chelate rings around the two tetracoordinated copper atoms in 5. The two copper centers along the long arm of the chair are separated through a distance of 5.190 Å while those in the short arm are at a length of 3.629 Å. The electronic, IR spectra and electrochemistry of the complexes 1, 2 and 5 have also been investigated.     

Synthesis, crystal structures and magnetic properties of the copper(II) complexes containing isophthalate anion as coligand

Two new dinuclear isophthalato-bridged copper(II) complexes [Cu₂(ntb)₂(μ-ipt)](ClO₄)₂·4CH₃OH·0.33H₂O (1), [Cu₂(bbma)₂(μ-ipt)(NO₃)(CH₃OH)]NO₃·CH₃OH (2) and one mononuclear complex [Cu(bbma)(ipt)(CH₃OH)_0.67(H₂O)_0.33]·2CH₃OH (3) containing tetradentate and tridentate poly-benzimidazole ligands were synthesized, where ntb is tris(2-benzimidazolylmethyl)amine, bbma is bis(benzimidazol-2-yl-methyl)amine and ipt is isophthalate dianion. All of the complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectra and X-ray crystallography. The structures of complexes 1 and 2 consist of μ-ipt bridging two Cu(II) centers in a bis(monodentate) bonding fashion. The coordination geometry around the Cu(II) ions of both compounds has a distorted square pyramidal geometry. The Cu···Cu distances are 9.142 and 10.435 Å for 1 and 2, respectively. Complex 3 has a distorted square pyramidal geometry achieved by the three N-atoms of the bbma ligand, one isophthalate-oxygen atom and one oxygen atom from a coordinated methanol molecule. The magnetic susceptibility measurements at variable temperature over the 2-300 K range for complexes 1 and 2 are reported, with J values to be −0.013 and −0.32 cm⁻¹, respectively. The results show that the two complexes exhibit very weak antiferromagnetic interactions between the dinuclear copper(II) centers.     

Transition metal complexes of 2-amino-3,5-dihalopyridines: Synthesis, structures and magnetic properties of Cu(3,5-diCAP)2X2 and Cu(3,5-diBAP)2X2

A family of bis(2-amino-3,5-dihalopyridine)dihalocopper(II) compounds has been synthesized, including (3,5-diCAP)₂CuCl₂ (1), (3,5-diCAP)₂CuBr₂ (2), (3,5-diBAP)₂CuCl₂ (3), and (3,5-diBAP)₂CuBr₂ (4) [3,5-diCAP = 2-amino-3,5-dichloropyridine; 3,5-diBAP = 2-amino-3,5-dibromopyridine]. These complexes have been analyzed through single crystal X-ray diffraction and temperature dependant magnetic susceptibility. The compounds are all isostructural, forming bi-bridged chains with long Cu-X?Cu bridges in the crystal lattice. The two copper chloride compounds (1 and 3) exhibit weak antiferromagnetic interactions along these chains.     

Different coordination modes of 5,5-diethylbarbiturate in the copper(II) complexes with some aliphatic amines: Synthesis, spectroscopic, thermal and structural studies

Three new copper(II) complexes of 5,5-diethlybarbiturate (barb), [Cu(barb)₂(dmen)]·0.5H₂O (dmen = N,N-dimethylethylenediamine) 1, [Cu(barb)₂(bapa)] (bapa = bis(3-aminopropyl)amine) 2, and [Cu(barb)(apen)](barb)·2H₂O (apen = N,N′-bis(3-aminopropyl)ethylenediamine) 3, have been synthesized and characterized by chemical, spectroscopic and thermal methods. Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies revealed that all complexes are mononuclear. The copper(II) ion exhibits a square-pyramidal coordination geometry in 1 and 3, but a trigonal-bipyramidal geometry in 2. The barb ligand shows different coordination modes. 1 presents the unequal coordination of the barb ligands: one is monodentate (N) and the other one is bidentate (N, O). In 2, both barb ligands are N-coordinated, whereas in 3, one barb ligand is N-coordinated, while the second barb ligand behaves as a counter-ion. The dmen, bapa and apen ligands act as bi-, tri- and tetradentate ligands, respectively. All complexes display a hydrogen-bonded network structure. The IR spectroscopic analysis shows that the ν(CO) stretching frequencies do not correlate predictably with the coordination mode of the barb ligand in 1. Thermal analysis data for 1-3 are in agreement with the crystal structures.     

Structural analysis and magnetic properties of the copper(II) dicyanamide complexes [Cu2(dmphen)2(dca)4], [Cu(dmphen)(dca)(NO3)]n and [Cu(4,4-dmbpy)(H2O)(dca)2] (dca=dicyanamide; dmphen=2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline; 4,4-dmbpy=4,4-dimethyl-2,2-bipyridine)

The preparation, crystal structures and magnetic properties of three copper(II) compounds of formulae [Cu₂(dmphen)₂(dca)₄] (1), [Cu(dmphen)(dca)(NO₃)]_n (2) and [Cu(4,4^′-dmbpy)(H₂O)(dca)₂] (3) (dmphen=2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, dca=dicyanamide and 4,4^′-dmbpy=4,4^′-dimethyl-2,2^′-bipyridine) are reported. The structure of 1 consists of discrete copper(II) dinuclear units with double end-to-end dca bridges whereas that of 2 is made up of neutral uniform copper(II) chains with a single symmetrical end-to-end dca bridge. Each copper atom in 1 and 2 is in a distorted square pyramidal environment: two (1) or one (2) nitrile-nitrogen atoms from bridging dca groups, one of the nitrogen atoms of the dmphen molecule (1 and 2) and either one nitrile-nitrogen from a terminal dca ligand (1) or a nitrate-oxygen atom (2) build the equatorial plane whereas the second nitrogen atom of the heterocyclic dmphen fills the axial position (1 and 2). The copper-copper separations through double (1) and single (2) end-to-end dca bridges are 7.1337(7) (1) and 7.6617(7) (2). Compound 3 is a mononuclear copper(II) complex whose structure contains two neutral and crystallographically independent [Cu(4,4^′-dmbpy)(H₂O)(dca)₂] molecules which are packed in two different layer arrangements running parallel to the bc-plane and alternating along the a-axis. The copper atoms in both molecules have slightly distorted square pyramidal surroundings with the two nitrogen atoms of the 4,4^′-dmbpy ligand and two dca nitrile-nitrogen atoms in the basal plane and a water oxygen in the apical position. A semi co-ordinated dca nitrile-nitrogen from a neighbour unit [2.952(6) Å for Cu(2)-N] is in trans position to the apical water molecule in one of the two molecules, this feature representing part of the difference in supramolecular connections in the alternating layers referred to above. Magnetic susceptibility measurements for 1-3 in the temperature range 1.9-290 K reveal the occurrence of weak antiferromagnetic interactions through double [J=−3.3 cm⁻¹ (1), ] and single [J=−0.57 cm⁻¹ (2), ] dca bridges and across intermolecular contacts [θ=−0.07 K (3)].     

Synthesis, structures, spectral and electrochemical properties of copper(II) complexes of sterically hindered Schiff base ligands

The Schiff base ligands 2-(2,6-diisopropylphenyliminomethyl)phenol H(L1), 5-diethylamino-2-(2,6-diisopropylphenyliminomethyl)phenol H(L2), 2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-(2,6-diisopropylphenyliminomethyl)phenol H(L3), 3-(2,6-diisopropylphenyliminomethyl)naphthalen-2-ol H(L4) and 4-(2,6-diisopropylphenyliminomethyl)-5-hydroxymethyl-2-methylpyridin-3-ol H(L5) have been synthesized by the condensation, respectively, of salicylaldehyde, 4-(diethylamino)salicylaldehyde, 3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylaldehyde, 2-hydroxy-1-napthaldehyde and pyridoxal with 2,6-diisopropylaniline. The copper(II) bis-ligand complexes [Cu(L1)₂] 1, [Cu(L2)₂] 2, [Cu(L3)₂] 3, [Cu(L4)₂] 4 and [Cu(L5)₂] · CH₃OH 5 of these ligands have been isolated and characterized. The X-ray crystal structures of two of the complexes [Cu(L1)₂] 1 and [Cu(L5)₂] · CH₃OH 5 have been successfully determined, and the centrosymmetric complexes possess a CuN₂O₂ chromophore with square planar coordination geometry. The frozen solution EPR spectra of the complexes reveal a square-based CuN₂O₂ chromophore, and the values of g_‖ and g_‖/A_‖ index reveal enhanced electron delocalization by incorporating the strongly electron-releasing -NEt₂ group (2) and fusing a benzene ring on sal-ring (4). The Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox potentials of the Cu(II) complexes reveal that the incorporation of electron-releasing -NEt₂ group and fusion of a benzene ring lead to enhanced stabilization of Cu(II) oxidation state supporting the EPR spectral results. The hydrogen bonding interactions between the two molecules present in the unit cell of 5a generate an interesting two-dimensional hydrogen-bonded network topology.     

Syntheses, characterization, and reactivity of copper complexes with tridentate N-donor ligands

The reaction of dioxygen with the copper(I) complex of the tridentate ligand 1,1,4,7,7-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (Me₅dien) has been investigated using low-temperature stopped-flow techniques. The formation of a bis(μ-oxo)copper(III) complex as a reactive intermediate could be detected spectroscopically at low temperatures and a quantitative kinetic analysis was performed for this system. Crystal structures of the copper(II) complexes [(Me-bpa)Cu(Cl)₂] (1), [{(Me-bpa)Cu(Cl)(ClO₄)}₂] (2), [{(MeL)Cu(Cl)(ClO₄)}₂] (3), and [(MeL)Cu(NCS)₂] (4) (Me-bpa = N-methyl-[bis(2-pyridyl)methyl]amine; MeL = N-methyl-[(2-pyridyl)ethyl(2-pyridyl)methyl]amine) are reported.     

Synthesis and DNA photocleavage by a pyridine-linked bis-acridine chromophore in the presence of copper(II): ionic strength effects

We report the synthesis of photonuclease 3 consisting of two acridine rings joined by a 2,6-bis(aminomethyl)pyridine copper-binding linker. In reactions containing micromolar concentrations of 3, irradiation at 419 nm produces efficient, copper(II)-dependent cleavage of plasmid DNA in the presence of the high concentrations of salt that exist in the cell nucleus (150 mM NaCl and 260 mM KCl). The DNA interactions of 3 are compared to an analogous bis-acridine (4) containing a more flexible 2,6-bis{[(methoxycarbonylamino)-ethyl]methylaminomethyl}pyridine unit.     

Synthesis, spectral and magnetic properties and crystal structures of copper(II) pyridinecarboxylates as potential antimicrobial agents

Synthesis and characterization of six new complexes [Cu{2,6-(MeO)₂nic}₂(H₂O)]₂ (1), [Cu{2,6-(MeO)₂nic}₂(H₂O)]₂ · 3DMF (2), where 2,6-(MeO)₂nic is 2,6-dimethoxynicotinate and DMF is N,N-dimethylformamide, [Cu(3-pyacr)₂(H₂O)₂]_n (3), where 3-pyacr is trans-3-(3-pyridyl)acrylate, [Cu(en)₂(H₂O)₂]X₂, where X is 2,6-(MeO)₂nic (4) or 3-pyacr (5) and en is ethylenediamine, and [Cu(3-pyacr)₂(dien)(μ-H₂O)_0.5]₂ · 7H₂O (6), where dien is diethylenetriamine are reported. The characterizations were based on elemental analysis, infrared, electronic and EPR spectra, and magnetic measurements over a temperature range of 1.8-300 K. Crystal structures of complexes 2, 4 and 6 have been determined by X-ray single crystal structure analysis. The available evidence supports dimeric structure of the acetate type for 1 and 2. Crystal structure of polymeric complex 3 has been determined from X-ray powder diffraction data. The 3-pyacr anions in pairs form bridges between two octahedrally surrounded copper(II) atoms in such a way that one 3-pyacr is coordinated to the first Cu^II by an oxygen atom of its carboxyl group and to the second Cu^II by the nitrogen atom of its pyridine ring, while the other is coordinated to the same two Cu^II atoms in a similar way, but the other way round. Environment about the copper(II) atom for 4 and 5 is a square bipyramid (4+2).In complex 6 both Cu^II central atoms are bridged only by an axial water molecule forming a dimeric structure with the considerably long separation of Cu^II atoms of 5.194 Å and the angle Cu1-O3-Cu1a of 150.79°. Moreover, results of the quantitative determination of antimicrobial activity of the complexes as well as above organic ligands alone are discussed.     

Copper(II) complexes derived from (2-carboxymethoxy-phenylamino)acetic acid and analogue

The synthesis and characterization of mononuclear copper complex of (3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-benzo[1,4]oxazin-4-yl)-acetic acid (1) and a tetranuclear copper complex of (2-carboxymethoxy-phenylamino)acetic acid (2) is reported. The sodium salt 1 on reaction with copper(II) chloride hexahydrate followed by treatment with pyridine gave a mononuclear copper complex; whereas, a tetra-nuclear complex in the case of reaction of 2 with copper(II) chloride hexahydrate and 2,2′-bipyridine was obtained. In tetra-nuclear copper(II) complex the NH group co-ordinates to copper and cluster has five co-ordination around copper(II).     

Dinuclear copper(I) complexes containing diimine and phosphine ligands: Synthesis, copper-copper separation and photophysical properties

Dinuclear copper(I) complexes with bridging bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)methane (dcpm) or bis(diphenylphosphino)methane (dppm) and 2,2′-bipyridine or 2-[N-(2-pyridyl)methyl]amino-5,7-dimethyl-1,8-naphthyridine (L), [Cu₂(bpy)₂(dppm)₂](BF₄)₂ (1), [Cu₂(bpy)₂(dcpm)](BF₄)₂ (2), [Cu₂(L)(dppm)](BF₄)₂ (3) and [Cu₂(L)(dcpm)](BF₄)₂ (4) were prepared, and their structures were determined by X-ray crystal analysis. Two-, three-, and four-coordinate copper(I) centers are found in these complexes. Compounds 3 and 4 show close Cu^I?Cu^I separations of 2.664(3) and 2.674(1) Å, respectively, whereas an intramolecular copper-copper distance of 3.038 Å is found in 2 having only dcpm as an additional bridge. Powdered samples of 1, 3, and 4 display intense and long-lived phosphorescence with λ_max at 533, 575, and 585 nm at room temperature, respectively. In the solid state, 2 exhibits only a weak emission at 555 nm. The time-resolved absorption and emission spectra of these complexes were investigated. The difference in the emission properties among complexes 1-4 suggests that both Cu^I?Cu^I distances and coordination environment of the copper(I) centers affect the excited-state properties.     

Synthesis, characterization, and crystal structures of hydrotris(2-mercapto-1-imidazolyl)borate-based zinc(II) and copper(I) complexes

The reaction of the tripod ligand hydrotris(2-mercapto-1-imidazolyl)borate Tm^xylyl with zinc(II) perchlorate in methanol afforded the mononuclear complex of the type [Tm^xylyl-Zn(mim^xylyl)]ClO₄ (1). Whereas under the same conditions, the reaction with copper(II) perchlorate gives rise to the simultaneous formation of the dinuclear copper(I) complex [Tm^xylylCu]₂ (2). The chemical formulae of the complexes have been characterized by elemental chemical analysis, IR-NMR spectroscopies, and single crystal X-ray methods. In complex 1, the zinc(II) atom displays a distorted tetrahedral environment. While in complex 2, the Tm^xylyl ligand bridges the two copper(I) atoms in an asymmetric manner with trigonal geometry. The inverted conformation of the ligand Tm^xylyl at the boron center, allows the B-H units to be directed towards the copper centers. The greater reactivity of the borohydride groups towards metal centers enhances the reduction of Cu(II) to Cu(I). The obtained kinetic results for the methylation reactions of 1 and 2 indicate that these bound thione complexes are less suitable to electrophilic attack than the thiolate ligand.     

Synthesis, structures and magnetic properties of nicotinato-copper(II) complexes with polybenzimidazole and polyamine ligands

Four novel nicotinato-copper(II) complexes containing polybenzimidazole and polyamine ligands were synthesized with formula [Cu₂(bbma)₂(nic)₂](ClO₄)₂·CH₃OH·0.5H₂O (1), [Cu₂(dien)₂(nic)₂](ClO₄)₂·2CH₃OH (2), [Cu(ntb)(nic)]ClO₄·H₂O (3) and [Cu(tren)(nic)]BPh₄·CH₃OH·H₂O (4), in which bbma is bis(benzimidazol-2-yl-methyl)amine, dien is diethylenetriamine, ntb is tris(2-benzimidazolylmethyl)amine, tren is tris(2-aminoethyl)amine and nic is nicotinate anion. All of the complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR and X-ray diffraction analysis. Complexes 1 and 2 contain centrosymmetric dinuclear entity with the two Cu(II) atoms bridged by two nicotinate anions in an anti-parallel mode. The Cu···Cu separation is 7.109 Å for 1 and 6.979 Å for 2. Complexes 3 and 4 are mononuclear with nicotinate coordinated to Cu(II) ion by the carboxylate O atom in 3 and the pyridine N atom in 4. All of the complexes exhibit abundant hydrogen bonds to form 1D chain for 1, 3, 4 and 2D network for 2. Magnetic susceptibility measurements over the 2-300 K range reveal very weak ferromagnetic interaction between the two Cu(II) ions in 1 and antiferromagnetic interaction in 2 mediated by nicotinate ligand, with J value to be 0.15 and −0.19 cm⁻¹, respectively.     

New bis(macrocyclic) dinickel(II) complexes obtained by oxidation of bis(5,7-dimethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradeca-4,7-dien-6-yl)dinickel(II) perchlorate

New bis(macrocyclic) dinickel(II) complexes with bis(Me₂[14]-4,7-dien-6-ylidene), 2a and 2b, were synthesized by oxidation of a dinickel(II) complex with an unsaturated bis(macrocyclic) ligand containing four CN bonds, bis(Me₂[14]-4,7-dien-6-yl) (1). Complex 2a was found to undergo intramolecular cyclization between the methyl group of one macrocycle and the carbon atom of the CN group of the other macrocycle to produce a bis(macrocyclic) dinickel(II) complex bridged by a fivemembered ring (3). The structures of 2b and 3 were determined by X-ray crystallography. The nonsymmetrical bis(macrocyclic) structure of the dinickel(II) complex 3 was reflected in its cyclic voltammogram and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra. The catalytic capabilities of these bis(macrocyclic) nickel(II) complexes in the reductive debromination of 1-bromo-4-tert-butylbenzene were also investigated.     

Dinuclear triply bridged copper(II)-carboxylato compounds with different bischelating ligands: Synthesis, crystal structure, spectroscopic and magnetic properties

Three new triply bridged dinuclear copper(II) compounds containing carboxylato bridges, [Cu₂(μ-CH₃COO-κ-O¹,O²)₂(μ-CH₃COO-κ-O¹)(dpyam)₂](BF₄) (1), [Cu₂(μ-CH₂CH₃COO-κ-O¹,O²)(μ-OH)(μ-OH₂)(bpy)₂](ClO₄)₂ (2) and [Cu₂(μ-CH₃COO-κ-O¹,O²)(μ-OH)(μ-OH₂)(phen)₂](ClO₄)₂ (3) (in which dpyam = di-2-pyridylamine, bpy = 2,2-bipyridine, phen = phenanthroline), have been synthesized in order to investigate the magnetic super-exchange pathway between coupled copper(II) centres. All three compounds display a distorted square-pyramidal arrangement around each copper(II) ion with a CuN₂O₃ chromophore. Compound 1 has three acetato bridges, two of which connect each square pyramid at two equatorial sites in a triatomic bridging mode and the third acetato bridge acts at the apical site in the monoatomic bridging mode. The structures of compounds 2 and 3 are mutually similar. In each dinuclear unit, both copper(II) ions are linked at two equatorial positions through a hydroxo bridge and a triatomic carboxylato bridge and at the axial position through a water molecule.The magnetic susceptibility measurements, measured from 5 to 300 K, revealed an antiferromagnetic interaction between the Cu(II) ions in compound 1 and a ferromagnetic interaction for compounds 2 and 3 with singlet-triplet energy gaps (J) of −56, 149 and 120 cm⁻¹, for compounds 1, 2 and 3, respectively.     

Aminoalcohols incorporating a piperazine ring: Synthesis, complexation of a hexadentate ligand and DNA cleavage capability of copper(II) complexes

The facility of aminoalcohol ligand synthesis via ring opening of cyclohexene oxide with polyamines including a piperazine ring is illustrated here with the syntheses and characterization of (2′-hydroxycyclohexyl)piperazine (1), bis(2′-hydroxycyclohexyl)-piperazine (2), 4-{(2″-hydroxycyclohexyl)-2′-aminoethyl)}piperazine (3), 1-(2″-hydroxycyclohexyl)-4-{(2″-hydroxycyclohexyl)-2′-aminoethyl)}piperazine (4), and 1,4-bis[(2″-hydroxycyclohexyl)-3′-aminopropyl]piperazine (5) described, along with an analogue of 4 in which a single -CH₂-CH₂- alkyl chain replaces the piperazine ring, 1,5-bis[(2′-hydroxycyclohexyl)amine]-3-azapentane (6). The viability of 5 as a hexadentate ligand was established by preparation of its copper(II) complex and subsequent X-ray crystal structure analysis. The complex [Cu(5)](ClO₄)₂ cation lies in a distorted octahedral environment with the four nitrogen donors in an approximate plane also incorporating the copper (Cu-N_tert 2.058(4) A; Cu-N_sec 2.072(4) A) and the two alcohol groups occupying axial sites with elongated bonds (Cu-O 2.415(3) A). The piperazine ring adopts a ‘butterfly wing’ geometry, whereas the two cyclohexane rings are in chair conformations. Significant bond angle distortions occur around the copper, exacerbated by the axial Jahn-Teller bond length distortion. The ability of the copper(II) complexes of the aminoalcohols to promote DNA cleavage was examined. Complexes of 2, 3 and 5 are effectively inactive whereas 4 is an efficient single strand cleavage promoter; however, the more flexible close analogue of 4, 6, also proved ineffective. Such observations for a closely related series indicate the subtle influences of spectator ligand rigidity and steric congestion on DNA cleavage promotion.