Two different complexes of copper(II) propionates, [Cu(C2H5CO2)(4)] (1
) and Na[Cu-4(C2H5CO2)(9)(H2O)(3)] (2) have been isolated from the rea
ction of Cu(II)(NO3)(2)3H(2)O with propionic acid in an aqueous soluti
on of NaOH. X-ray structural analysis revealed that complex 1 consists
of a one-dimensional chain of an apical-to-basal Cu-O-Cu linkage of p
airwise binuclear anhydrous cupric propionates, which agrees with resu
lts previously reported. Compound 2 consists of a cation Na+ which int
eracts with six oxygen atoms of carboxylate groups, and anionic [Cu-4(
C2H5CO2)(9)(H2O)(3)](-) ion, which contains one isolated syn-syn-carbo
xylato dimeric copper(II) complex [Cu-2(C2H5CO2)(4)(H2O)(2)], and a li
near chain containing one syn-syn-carboxylato dimeric [Cu-2(C2H5CO2)(4
)] and its apical position linked by a carboxylate bridge with a unit
of [Cu(C2H5CO2)(H2O)]. Cryomagnetic susceptibilities 1 and 2 have been
measured over the temperature range 4-300 K. In 1, the spins are coup
led through an alternating one-dimensional antiferromagnetic interacti
on. In 2, the cryomagnetic exchange interaction has been interpreted i
n terms of a strong antiferromagnetic interaction associated with the
two paired dinuclear units of Cu(II)...Cu(II), and one mononuclear Cu(
II) unit which complies with a Curie-Weiss law. (C) 1998 Elsevier Scie
nce Ltd. All rights reserved.