Preparation and structural characterization of di-μ-azido-bis[azido(2-aminopyridine)aquo]dicopper(II), [Cu(2-ampy)(N3)2(H2O)]2

Di-μ-azido-bis[azido(2-aminopyridine)aquo]dicopper(II), [Cu(2-ampy)(N₃)₂(H₂O)]₂, was synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography. The crystals are triclinic, space group P$\text{1}$, with a = 7.142(1), b = 7.812(1), c = 9.727(1) Å, a = 96.52(1), β = 95.52(1), γ = 113.47(1)°, and Z = 1. The structure was refined to R_F = 0.030 for 1960 observed MoKα diffractometer data. The dimeric molecule, which possesses a crystallographic inversion center, contains both terminal and μ(1)-bridging azido groups. Each copper(II) atom is further coordinated by a 2-aminopyridine ligand (via its ring N atom) and a water molecule to give a distorted square pyramid, with the metal atom raised by 0.17 Å above the N₄ basal plane [CuN (ring) = 2.001(2), CuN (azide) = 1.962(3)–2.018(2) Å] towards the apical aquo ligand [CuO = 2.371(2) Å]. Each water molecule forms an intramolecular O?HN (amine) acceptor hydrogen bond, and is linked by two OH?N (terminal azide) intermolecular donor hydrogen bonds to adjacent dimeric complexes to yield a layer structure parallel to (001). Infrared and electronic spectral data are presented and discussed.