COPPER(II) AND CADMIUM(II) COMPLEXES OF 2-BENZYLTHIO-4-FORMYL-1-P-METHOXYPHENYLIMIDAZOLE - CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE, SPECTRAL PROPERTIES AND THERMAL-BEHAVIOR

The coordinative capacity of 2-benzylthio-4-formyl-1-p-methoxyphenylim idazole (ALME) with several transition metal ions has been investigate d and has led to only copper(II) and cadmium(II) complexes of general formula [MIICl2(ALME)2].nH2O. These compounds were studied by spectral (i.r., u.v.-vis. n.i.r. and e.p.r.) and thermal methods (t.g., d.t.g. and d.s.c.) as well as magnetic susceptibility measurements. The crys tal structure of the copper complex has been solved, although a full r efinement of the structure has not been possible as very few measured reflections were observed. The structure consists of discrete [CuCl2(A LME)2] units in which Cu(II) ion is 4 + 2 Cl2N2O2 surrounded [Cu-Cl(1) , 2.28(1) angstrom; Cu-Cl(2), 2.29(1) angstrom, Cu-N, 2.00(2) angstrom ; Cu-O, 2.71(2) angstrom]. The ALME ligand acts as bidentate chelator through the N(3) imidazolic atom and the oxygen of the formyl group, t he Cu-O interaction being very weak. Water molecules have not been loc alized.