Synthesis, structure and electrochemistry of dinuclear copper(II) complex with dinucleating Schiff-base ligand

A new ligand, 1,3-di[o-(o-vanillideneimino)phenoxo]-2-propanol H2L, has bee n prepared stepwise and identified by elemental analyses (EA), IR and H-1 N MR spectra. The title complex [Cu2L2](py)(2)(H2O)(2) has been synthesized b y reaction of H2L and Cu(OAc)(2)H2O, and characterized by EA and IR. The re dox properties of the dinuclear complex have been investigated by cyclic vo ltammetry. Two successive, one-electron, quasi reversible processes indicat e an interaction between two copper centers. The title complex structure is solved by X-ray diffraction. In the centro-symmetric unit [Cu2L2], only ph enolic and imino groups bind Cu atoms to form two distortional square coord ination geometries, parallel to each other; and the Cu Cu separation is 9.8 7 Angstrom. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.