BINUCLEAR COPPER(II) COMPLEXES CONTAINING PHENOLS AND CATECHOLS

The synthesis and characterisation of a series of binuclear copper(II) complexes of ligands formed by the condensation of substituted salicy laldehydes and 1,3-diamino-2-propanol (SalDplH(3)) and 1,5-diamino-3-p entanol (SalDpeH(3)) and their interaction with both phenols and catec hols are reported. Spectroscopic and magnetic data suggest that the ne utral phenols and catechols can bind to binuclear copper(II) complexes without actually coordinating to the copper atoms. The crystal and mo lecular structure of two binuclear copper(II) complexes have been solv ed. The mu-hydroxo bridged dicopper(II) complex of SalDpe(3-), [Cu(2)S alDpe(OH)], C19H20O4N2Cu2, I, having the space group P-1 and cell dime nsions, a = 8.475(3), b = 15.727, c = 6.999(2) Angstrom, alpha = 99.51 (2), beta = 92.84(3), gamma = 77.66(2)degrees was solved for 1839 stru cture factors (I>3.0 sigma(I)) and Z = 2, R = 4.2, R(w) = 4.3%. The co mpound consists of neutral molecules with an out-of-plane interaction from a copper in one binuclear unit to the hydroxo group of an adjoini ng molecule. The 4-ethylphenol adduct of the mu-(O,O') phenylacetate b ridged dicopper(II) complex of SalDplH(3), [Cu(2)SalDpl(Phenac)(4-Ethy lphenol)], C33H31N2O6Cu2, II having the space group P-1 and cell dimen sions, a = 11.872(2), b = 13.418(3), c = 11.046(2) Angstrom, alpha = 1 01.95(2), beta = 103.65(1), gamma = 113.35(1)degrees was solved for 38 33 structure factors (I>3.0 sigma(I)) and Z = 2, R = 4.1, R(w) = 4.3%. The 4-ethylphenol group is involved in a strong hydrogen bond to one of the phenolic oxygen donor atoms of the SalDpl(3-) ligand and a weak er hydrogen bond to the adjoining oxygen donor atom of the bridging ph enylacetate ion. The other phenolic oxygen donor atom is involved in a n out-of-plane interaction to one of the copper atoms.