Transition metal halide salts of 2-amino-3-methylpyridine: synthesis, crystal structures and magnetic properties of (3-MAP)(2)CuX4 [3-MAP=2-amino-3-methylpyridinium; X = Cl, Br]

The reaction of CuX2. nH(2)O with HX [X = Cl, Br] and 2-amino-3-methylpyrid ine in aqueous solution gave compounds of the formula (3-MAP)(2)(CuX4) [3-M AP = 2-amino-3-methylpyridinium]. The compounds have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The complexes crystallize as salts with t he 3-MAP cations separating layers of tetrahalometallate anions. Both compo unds have two independent molecules in their asymmetric units. Weak antifer romagnetic interactions are observed, which suggest a primarily low-dimensi onal magnetic exchange network. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights r eserved.