From triplesalen to triplesalacen: Synthesis spectroscopic, redox, and magnetic properties of the trinuclear Cu3 triplesalacen complex

The tris(tetradentate) triplesalacen ligand H₆talacen and its trinuclear copper complex, namely [(talacen)Cu^II₃], were synthesized and its molecular and electronic structure determined. The ligand is prepared by the triple condensation of 2,4,6-trisacetyl-1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene (1) and excess acacen half-unit (2). The molecular structure of [(talacen)Cu^II₃] exhibits a strong ligand folding around the central Cu^II-phenolate bonds. This ligand folding is stronger than that observed in the trinuclear copper triplesalen complexes. The electronic absorption spectrum exhibits a prominent intense band at 32 400 cm⁻¹ and d-d transitions around 19 000 cm⁻¹. These spectral features are related to the ligand folding, which opens an O^Ph(p_z)-Cu^II(d_x²-y²) bonding pathway. Electrochemical studies provide an irreversible oxidation at a relatively low potential of 0.17 V versus Fc⁺/Fc, which is assigned to a ligand-centered oxidation of the central phloroglucinol backbone. A ferromagnetic coupling of J = 1.20 cm⁻¹ (H=∑_i<j-2J_ijS_iS_j) is established in agreement with the spin-polarization mechanism. A critical analysis of the bond distances of the central phloroglucinol unit provides evidence that not only the usual phenolate-imine but also the keto-enamide mesomeric form contribute to the resonance hybrid. This might explain the relatively weak ferromagnetic coupling.     

Synthesis, crystal structures and magnetic properties of transition metal–azide complexes coordinated with pyridyl nitronyl nitroxides

Two novel complexes Co(N₃)₂(PNN)₄ (I) and Mn(N₃)₂(PNN)₂(CH₃OH)(C₂H₅OH) (II) (PNN=2-(p-pyridyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3–oxide) were synthesized and characterized by infrared spectra, elemental analyses and UV–Vis techniques. The crystal structures of both complexes have been determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. Complex I is a neutral five-spin system and adopts a centrosymmetric tetragonally compressed octahedral coordination geometry in which Co(II) ion is coordinated to four radicals through the nitrogen atoms of the pyridine rings and two azide anions occupying the axial positions. Complex II is a neutral three-spin system in which Mn(II) ion is bound to two azide anions, two alcohol molecules and two radicals through the nitrogen atom of pyridine rings, and shows one-dimensional chain structure via hydrogen bonds (d_ON=2.78 Å). The magnetic properties for complexes I and II have been investigated in the temperature range 2–300 K. A theoretical model has been developed for complex I and the magnetic behaviors for both complexes have been discussed in detail.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, magnetic properties and EPR studies of Cu/Hg bimetallic thiocyanato-bridged coordination polymer

The new Cu/Hg bimetallic thiocyanato-bridged coordination polymer, [Cu(2-bzpy)Hg(SCN)₄]_n, has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, magnetic measurements, EPR, and X-ray crystallography. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that the title complex structure creates 3D network.     

Chlorido-bridged polymeric and dinuclear copper(II) complexes with tridentate Schiff base: Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties

Two copper(II) complexes, [Cu(qsal)Cl](DMF) (1) and [Cu₂(qsalBr)₂Cl₂](DMF) (2), with tridentate Schiff base ligands, 8-(salicylideneamino)quinoline (Hqsal) and 8-(5-bromo-salicylideneamino)quinoline (HqsalBr), respectively, were synthesised and structurally characterized. Each copper(II) ion in the two complexes is in a distorted square pyramidal N₂OCl₂ environment. Complex 1 exists as a polymeric species via equatorial-apical chloride bridges, whereas 2 is a di-chlorido-bridged dinuclear complex, where each bridging chloride simultaneously occupies an in-plane coordination site on one copper(II) ion and an apical site on the other copper(II) ion. Variable-temperature magnetical susceptibility measurements on the two complexes in the temperature range 2-300 K indicate the occurrence of intrachain ferromagnetic (J = +6.58 cm⁻¹) and intramolecular antiferromagnetical (J = −6.91 cm⁻¹) interactions.     

Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties of quasi-linear tetranuclear copper(II) Schiff base complexes formed by covalent linkage of asymmetrically dibridged dicopper(II) units

Alkoxo-phenoxo bridged tetranuclear copper(II) complexes [Cu₄L₂(O₂CC₆H₄-p-OH)₂] (1) and [Cu₄L₂(O₂CC₆H₄-o-OH)₂] (2) containing pentadentate Schiff base ligand N,N^′-(2-hydroxypropane-1,3-diyl)bis(salicylaldimine) (H₃L) are prepared and structurally characterized. Crystal structures of the complexes show the covalent linkage between two {Cu₂L(O₂CR)}(R = C₆H₄-p-OH, C₆H₄-o-OH) units through the phenoxo atoms of the Schiff base ligand showing axial/equatorial bonding modes. The Cu(1)-O(2)-Cu(2) alkoxo bridge angle is 131° in 1 and 2. The pendant ortho- and para- OH groups of the three-atom bridging carboxylate ligands show no apparent bonding interactions with the metal or other group(s). The complexes show a d-d band near 635 nm in CH₂Cl₂. Variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements in the temperature range 300-18 K show antiferromagnetically coupled spin system. A theoretical fit of the magnetic data using exchange parameters J₁ and J₂ for the intradimer and interdimer units of the quasi-linear tetrameric core gave values as: J₁=−132,J₂=−72 cm⁻¹ for 1 and J₁=−167,J₂=−67 cm⁻¹ for 2.     

Chromium(III) complexes with 2-(2′-pyridyl)imidazole: Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties

The preparation, crystal structure and variable temperature-magnetic investigation of three 2-(2′-pyridyl)imidazole-containing chromium(III) complexes of formula PPh₄[Cr(pyim)(C₂O₄)₂]·H₂O (1), AsPh₄[Cr(pyim)(C₂O₄)₂]·H₂O (2) and [Cr₂(pyim)₂(C₂O₄)₂(OH₂)₂]·2pyim · 6H₂O (3) [pyim = 2-(2′-pyridyl)imidazole, , and ] are reported herein. The isomorphous compounds are made up of discrete [Cr(pyim)(C₂O₄)₂]⁻ anions, cations [X = P (1) and As (2)] and uncoordinated water molecules. The chromium environment in 1 and 2 is distorted octahedral with Cr-N and Cr-O bond distances varying in the ranges 2.040(3)-2.101(3) and 1.941(3)-1.959(3) Å, respectively. The angle subtended by the chromium(III) ion by the two didentate oxalate ligands cover the range 82.49(12)-82.95(12)°, values which are somewhat greater than those concerning the chelating pyim molecule [77.94(13) (1) and 78.50(13)° (2)]. Complex 3 contains discrete centrosymmetric [Cr₂(pyim)₂(C₂O₄)₂(OH)₂] neutral units where the two chromium(III) ions are joined by a di-μ-hydroxo bridge, the oxalate and pyim groups acting as peripheral didentate ligands. Uncoordinated water and pyim molecules are also present in 3 and they contribute to the stabilization of its structure by extensive hydrogen bonding and π-π type interactions. The values of the intramolecular chromium-chromium separation and angle at the hydroxo bridge in 3 are 2.9908(12) Å and 99.60(16)°, respectively. Magnetic susceptibility measurements of 1-3 in the temperature range 1.9-300 K show the occurrence of weak inter- (1 and 2) and intramolecular (3) antiferromagnetic couplings. The magnetic properties of 3 have been interpreted in terms of a temperature-dependent exchange integral, small changes of the angle at the hydroxo bridge upon cooling being most likely responsible for this peculiar magnetic behavior.     

Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties of cubane and linear trinuclear nickel complexes formed by 3,5-dichloro-2-hydroxybenzylaminoacetic acid

The reaction of Ni(ClO₄)₂·6H₂O with 3,5-dichloro-2-hydroxy-benzylaminoacetic acid (H₂dchaa), NaN₃ and triethylamine in methanol solution or water solution under solvothermal methods leads to the formation of two completely different Ni^II compounds: [HN(C₂H₅)₃]₈·[Ni₄(dchaa)₄(N₃)₄]₂ (1) and [HN(C₂H₅)₃]₂·[Ni₃(dchaa)₄(H₂O)₄]₂·(H₂O)₂ (2). The complexes 1 and 2 have been characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectra and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Structure analyses reveal that complex 1 is a cubane cluster, while the complex 2 is a linear trinuclear cluster. The magnetic investigation shows that complexes 1 and 2 exhibit a ferromagnetic coupling between Ni^II ions. Ac susceptibilities of 1 and 2 reveal no frequency-dependent out-of-phase signals and the corresponding magnetic properties were discussed.     

Iron(III), chromium(III) and cobalt(II) complexes with squarate: Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties

The preparation and variable temperature-magnetic investigation of three squarate-containing complexes of formula [Fe₂(OH)₂(C₄O₄)₂(H₂O)₄]·2H₂O (1) [Cr₂(OH)₂(C₄O₄)₂(H₂O)₄]·2H₂O (2) and [Co(C₄O₄)(H₂O)₄]_n (3) [H₂C₄O₄ = 3.4-dihydroxycyclobutene-1,2-dione (squaric acid)] together with the crystal structures of 1 and 3 are reported. Complex 1 contains discrete centrosymmetric [Fe₂(OH)₂(C₄O₄)₂(H₂O)₄] diiron(II) units where the iron pairs are joined by a di-μ-hydroxo bridge and two squarate ligands acting as bridging groups through adjacent oxygen atoms. Two coordinated water molecules in cis position complete the octahedral environment at each iron atom in 1. The iron-iron distance with the dinuclear unit is 3.0722(6) Å and the angle at the hydroxo bridge is 99.99(7)°, values which compare well with the corresponding ones in the isostructural compound 2 (2.998 Å and 99.47°) whose structure was reported previously. The crystal structure of 3 contains neutral chains of squarato-O¹,O³-bridged cobalt(II) ions where four coordinated water molecules complete the six-coordination at each cobalt atom. The cobalt-cobalt separation across the squarate bridge is 8.0595(4) Å. A relatively important intramolecular antiferromagnetic coupling occurs in 1 whereas it is very weak in 2, the exchange pathway being the same [J = −14.4 (1) and −0.07 cm⁻¹ (2), the spin Hamiltonian being defined as ]. A weak intrachain antiferromagnetic interaction between the high-spin cobalt(II) ions occurs in 3 (J = −0.30 cm⁻¹). The magnitude and nature of these magnetic interactions are discussed in the light of their respective structures and they are compared with those reported for related systems.     

Seven-coordinate Mn(II) and Co(II) complexes of the pentadentate ligand 2,6-diacetyl-4-carboxymethyl-pyridine bis(benzoylhydrazone): Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties

The metal complexation properties of a functionalized N₃O₂ donor ligand H₂L², where H₂L² stands for 2,6-diacetyl-4-carboxymethyl-pyridine bis(benzoylhydrazone), are investigated by structural and spectroscopic (IR, ESI-MS and EPR) characterization of its Mn(II) and Co(II) complexes. The ligand H₂L² is observed to react essentially in the same fashion as its unmodified parent H₂L¹ producing mixed-ligand [M(H₂L²)(Cl₂)] complexes (M = Mn^II (1), Co^II (3)) upon treatment with MCl₂. Complexes [M(HL²)(H₂O)(EtOH)]BPh₄ (M = Mn 2, M = Co 4), incorporating the supporting ligand in the partially deprotonated form (HL²)⁻, are formed by salt elimination of the [M(H₂L²)(Cl₂)] compounds with NaBPh₄. Compounds 2 and 4 are isostructural featuring distorted pentagonal-bipyramidal coordinated Mn^II and Co^II ions, with the H₂O and EtOH ligands bound in axial positions. Intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions of the type M-OH₂?O-M involving the H₂O ligands and the carbonyl functions of the supporting ligand assembles the complexes into dimers. Temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements (2-300 K) show a substantially paramagnetic Curie behavior for the Mn²⁺ compound (2) influenced by zero-field splitting and significant orbital angular momentum contribution for 4 (high-spin Co^II). The exchange coupling across the Mn^II-OH₂?O-Mn^II bridges in 2 was found to be less than 0.1 cm⁻¹, suggesting that no significant intradimer exchange coupling occurs via this path.     

Synthesis, structure and magnetic properties of a two-dimensional manganese(II) complex with a maximum denticity of ethylenediaminetetraacetic ligand

A new Mn(II) complex, [Mn₂(edta)(H₂O)]_n·nH₂O (1) (H₄edta = ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) has been synthesized by the reaction of MnCl₂·4H₂O and H₄edta under hydrothermal conditions, and was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction study, variable temperature (1.8-300 K) magnetic measurement, and thermal gravity analysis. The result of X-ray crystallographic analysis reveals that complex 1 is the first two-dimensional (2D) Mn-edta coordination polymer with a grid-like (4,4)-topology, which is built from Mn-carboxylate chains and entirely deprotonated edta⁴⁻ ligands with a maximum denticity. The variable temperature magnetic data indicate that complex 1 exhibits strong antiferromagnetic couplings.     

Antiferromagnetic interactions through phenoxo bridges and lattice water: Synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties of new Mn(III) Schiff base complexes in combination with thiocyanate ligand

The Schiff base ligands, N,N′-bis(2-hydroxyacetophenone)-1,2-diaminoethane (acphenH₂) and N,N′-bis(2-hydroxyacetophenone)-1,3-diaminopropane (acphpnH₂), prepared in situ were used to synthesise two new Mn(III) complexes which were characterised by crystallography and variable temperature magnetic measurements. [Mn(acphen)NCS]₂ is a phenoxo-bridged dimeric compound with the thiocyanate coordinating in the usual bent mode (Mn-N-C angle, 152°) and is weakly antiferromagnetic. Since there are no significant inter-dimer contacts in the crystal, the low temperature magnetic behaviour is influenced by single ion zero-field splitting. Exact diagonalisation of the spin Hamiltonian was performed to derive the following parameters: J = −0.7 cm⁻¹, D = −0.6 cm⁻¹. Mn(acphpn)(H₂O)NCS is monomeric with an unusual linearly coordinated thiocyanate (Mn-N-C angle, 178°). Two lattice water molecules link the Mn(III) complex molecules through hydrogen bonds to form one-dimensional chains in the crystal. Magnetic exchange along the chain makes this compound also weakly antiferromagnetic with J ∼ -2 cm⁻¹.     

Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties of the first structurally characterized 1,2-dithiocroconato-containing Cu(II) complex, [Cu(bpca)(H2O)]2[Cu(1,2-dtcr)2]·2H2O

The first crystal and molecular structure of a transition metal complex containing 1,2-dithiocroconate (1,2-dtcr, dianion of 1,2-dimercaptocylopent-1-ene-3,4,5-trione), [Cu(bpca)(H₂O)]₂[Cu(1,2-dtcr)₂]·2H₂O (where bpca is the bis(2-pyrdidylcarbonyl)amide anion), has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction methods. The compound crystallizesin the monoclinic syste, space group P2₁/c, with a = 11.661(3), b = 20.255(6), c = 8.265(3) Å, ß = 107.26(2)° and Z = 2. The structure is formally built of [Cu(1,2-dtcr)₂]²⁻ and [Cu(bpca)(H₂O)]⁺ ions and water of hydration. The copper atom of the anion is situated at a crystallographic inversion centre, bonded to four sulfur atoms in a planar, approximately square arrangement. In the cation the copper equatorial plane is formed by the three nitrogen atoms of the bpca ligand and a water oxygen atom. In addition there is a very weak axial bond to one of the sulfur atoms of a 1,2-dtcr ligand in the anion. Through these latter weak bonds each anion is connected to, and sandwiched between, two cations, resulting in neutral, trinuclear, centrosymmetric formula units. The triple-decker molecules are arranged in stacks along the crystallographic a-axis creating close contacts between the terminal copper atoms and bpca groups of the neighbouring molecules. This intermolecular interaction is, however, too weak to define the structure as a chain compound. The distance between adjacent copper atoms within the trinuclear unit is 4.189(1) Å, while the shortest intra-stack metal-metal separation between terminal copper atoms is 5.281(1) Å. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements in the temperature r.2–140 K reveal that a Curie law is followed; with three non-interacting copper(II) ions in the formula unit.     

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.     

Oxalate, squarate and croconate complexes with bis(2-pyrimidylcarbonyl)amidatecopper(II): synthesis, crystal structures and magnetic properties

The preparation and magnetic properties of three copper(II) compounds of formulae [Cu₂(bpcam)₂(H₂O)₂(C₂O₄)] (1), [Cu₂(bpcam)₂(H₂O)₄(C₄O₄)] · 10 H₂O (2) and Cu₂(bpcam)₂(C₅O₅)(H₂O)₃ (3) [bpcam = bis(2-pyrimidyl)amidate, and are reported. The structures of two of them (1 and 2) have been solved by single crystal X-ray diffraction and consists of centrosymmetric discrete copper(II) dinuclear units bridged by bis-bidentate oxalate (1) and bis-monodentate squarate (2), with the bpcam group acting as a terminal tridentate ligand. Each copper atom in 1 exhibits a distorted elongated octahedral coordination geometry. Three bpcam nitrogen atoms and one oxalate oxygen define the basal plane while the other oxalate oxygen and a water molecule take up the axial positions. Each copper atom in 2 is in an elongated octahedral surrounding with three bpcam nitrogen atoms and one squarate oxygen in the equatorial plane and two water molecules in the axial positions. The intramolecular copper-copper separations are 5.677(1) (1) and 7.819(53) Å (2). Magnetic susceptibility measurements for 1-3 in the temperature range 1.9-290 K show the occurrence of weak ferromagnetic interactions through oxalato (J = +0.75 cm⁻¹) and squarato (J = +1.26 cm⁻¹), the Hamiltonian being defined by . These values are analyzed and discussed in the light of the available magneto-structural data for analogous systems. The quasi-Curie law observed in 3 (θ = −1.15 K) contrasts with the significant antiferromagnetic interaction through bis-chelating croconate in other structurally characterized croconate-bridged copper(II) complexes and rules out the presence of bridging croconate in this compound.     

Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties of a novel iron(III) 18-azametallacrown-6 compound

A novel macrocyclic hexanuclear iron(III) 18-azametallacrown-6 compound, [Fe₆(C₉H₇N₂O₃)₆(CH₃OH)₆]·8CH₃OH·2H₂O, has been prepared using a trianionic pentadentate ligand N-acetylsalicylhydrazide (ashz³⁻) and characterized by X-ray diffraction. Due to the meridional coordination of the ligand to the Fe³⁺ ion, the ligand enforces the stereochemistry of the Fe³⁺ ions as a propeller configuration with alternating Λ/Δ forms. The disc-shaped hexanuclear ring shows about 6.20 Å in diameter at entrance, about 9.31 Å at its largest diameter at the center of the cavity, respectively. There are many kinds of intramolecular and intermolecular hydrogen bonds in the title compound. The OH?O hydrogen bond distances range from 2.609(5)-2.901(5) Å. The magnetic susceptibility (4-275K) study indicates antiferromagnetic exchange interactions between the adjacent Fe³⁺ ions around the ring.     

Cyanato bridged binuclear nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes with pyridylpyrazole ligand: Synthesis, structure and magnetic properties

Binuclear cyanate bridged nickel(II) complex [Ni(L)(NCO)]₂(PF₆)₂ (1) and copper(II) complex [Cu(L)(NCO)]₂(PF₆)₂ (2), where L is N,N-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)aminomethylpyridine, a tetradentate N₄-coordinated ligand have been synthesized and characterized by physicochemical method. The structures of complexes 1 and 2 have been studied by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The structure analysis reveals that both nickel(II) and copper(II) center are coordinated in distorted octahedral fashion and coordination mode of cyanate ligand is end-to-end (μ-1,3) for complex 1 but it is double end-on (μ-1,1) mode for complex 2. The variable temperature magnetic susceptibility data, measured from 2 to 300 K, show weak antiferromagnetic interaction with J value −6.2(1) cm⁻¹ for complex 1, whereas complex 2 has very weak ferromagnetic interaction with J value +0.5(1) cm⁻¹.     

Synthesis, crystal structures and magnetic characterization of heterodinuclear CuGd and CuTb Schiff base complexes

Preparation, crystal structures and magnetic properties of new heterodinuclear Cu^IIGd^III (1) and Cu^IITb^III (2) complexes [CuLn(L)(NO₃)₂(H₂O)₃MeOH]NO₃·MeOH (where Ln = Gd, Tb) with the hexadentate Schiff-base compartmental ligand N,N′-bis(5-bromo-3-methoxysalicylidene)propylene-1,3-diamine (H₂L = C₁₉H₂₀N₂O₄Br₂) (0) have been described. Crystal structure analysis of 1 and 2 revealed that they are isostructural and form discrete dinuclear units with dihedral angle between the O1Cu1O2 and O1Gd1/Tb1O2 planes equal to 2.5(1)° and 2.6(1)°, respectively. The variable-temperature and variable-field magnetic measurements indicate that the metal centers in 1 and 2 are ferromagnetically coupled (J = 7.89 cm⁻¹ for 1). Crystal and molecular structure of the Schiff base ligand (0) has been also reported. The complex formation changes the conformation of Schiff base ligand molecule.     

A chiral copper(II) inverse-9-metallacrown-3 complex: Synthesis, crystal structure, ferroelectric and magnetic properties

The reaction of phenyl 2-pyridyl ketoxime (PhPyCNOH) with Cu(NO₃)₂·3H₂O in methanol results in the chiral trinuclear complex [Cu₃(OH)(PhPyCNO)₃(NO₃) (CH₃OH)]·(NO₃) (1), which has been characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectra and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The structure of 1 exhibits a triangle of Cu(II) ions, centered by a triply bridging hydroxo ligand and with three edge-bridging oximate groups from the three PhPyCNO⁻ ions. Preliminary variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility studies reveal an antiferromagnetically-coupled system showing antisymmetric exchange. Complex 1 crystallizes in an acentric space group (P2₁) that belongs to a polar point group, which displays second harmonic generation response and ferroelectric behavior, and provides a new strategy for designing functional coordination complexes.     

Copper and manganese complexes with C2-multitopic ligands. X-ray crystal structure of [Cu(N,N′-bis[(S)-prolyl]phenylenediamine)H2O]. Catalytic properties

Eight mononuclear complexes with multitopic C₂-symmetry ligands, [Cu(L)]ClO₄, [Mn(L)Cl(H₂O)]PF₆, (L=N,N′-bis[(S)-prolyl]phenylenediamine (1), N,N′-bis[(S)-N-benzylprolyl]phenylenediamine (2), N,N′-bis{[(S)-pyrrolidin-2-yl]methyl}phenylenediamine (3), N,N′-bis-{[(S)-N-benzyl-pyrrolidin-2-yl]methyl}phenylenediamine (4)) have been prepared and characterised by analytical (elemental analysis, and mass spectroscopy) and FT IR, NMR and electronic spectroscopies. The data show that the ligands are neutral and coordinate to the metal in a tetradentate manner. The N,N′-bis[(S)-prolyl]phenylenediamine ligand also appears as an anionic species, (LH-2), and the single crystal structure determination of the respective complex, [Cu(1)]H₂O, is reported. This new family of Cu-complexes catalyse the cyclopropanation of styrene with ethyl and t-butyl diazoacetate to afford cis/trans 2-phenylcyclopropan-1-carboxylates with good yields and selectivity against dimerisation and low ee (<10%). On the other hand, the manganese and copper complexes also catalyse the oxidation of organic sulfides to sulfoxides with high selectivity, and moderate to low enantioselectivity. If an excess of oxidant were used the reaction yields sulfone as only product with excellent yield.     

Trinuclear copper(II) complexes of bis(acylhydrazone) ligands. Structural analysis and magnetic properties of a sulfato-bridged hexanuclear dimer

The synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of the new symmetric, ligand bis(salicylaldehyde)methyliminodiacetylhydrazone (H₄MeImds) is reported. The reactions of H₄ MeImds with copper(II) chloride, nitrate and sulfate give trinuclear metal complexes of formula Cu₃(MeImds)Cl₂ · CHCl₃ · H₂O, Cu₃(MeImds)(NO₃)₂ · 2H₂O and Cu₃(MeImds)(SO₄) · 8H₂O; the trinuclear species are obtained in spite of the used metal:ligand molar ratio. The X-ray crystal structure of [Cu₃(MeImds)(SO₄)(H₂O)₃] · 5H₂O is determined; it consists of linear units, with the nonadentate ligand bound to three copper ions. The trimetallic units are bridged via sulfate anions to give hexanuclear dimers with an imposed centre of symmetry. The magnetic properties of [Cu₃(MeImds)(SO₄)(H₂O)₃] · 5H₂O are characterized by a significant antiferromagnetic coupling within the trimetallic units and by a weak antiferromagnetic coupling between them. The analogous trinuclear copper(II) complexes Cu₃(HImds)Cl₂ · H₂O and Cu₃(HImds)(SO₄) · 4H₂O (H₅Imds, bis(salicylaldehyde)iminodiacetylhydrazone) were also prepared and spectroscopically characterized.