Crystal structures of four complexes produced by reaction of copper(I) cyanide with imidazoles

Four complexes of CuCN with imidazoles have been prepared by adding the lig and to a solution of CuCN in aqueous sodium thiosulfate. The imidazole liga nds used were 2-methylimidazole (mim), 1,2-dimethylimidazole (dmim), 5-chlo ro-1-methylimidazole (clmim), and 2-phenylimidazole (phim). Complex 1, (CuC N)(mim) is monoclinic, C2/c, a = 9.565(3), b = 7.764(5), c = 8.983(8) Angst rom, beta = 96.76(3)degrees, Z = 4, Complex 2, (CnCN)(dmim) is monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 8.120(2), b = 11.796(4), c = 16.375(9) Angstrom, beta = 100.87 (4)degrees, Z = 8, Complex 3, (CuCN) (clmim) is monoclinic, C2/c, a = 24.90 7(4), b = 6.894(5), c = 18.259(4) Angstrom, beta = 102.79(2)degrees, Z = 16 . Complex 4, (CuCN)(phim) is orthorhombic, Pca2(1), a = 9.204(4), b = 8.125 (2), c = 26.304(6) Angstrom, Z = 8. Complexes 1, 2, and 4 have one-dimensio nal chains -Cu-CN-Cu- with an imidazole bonded to each Cu. Complex 3 has a two-dimensional sheet of CuCN, again with an imidazole bonded to each Cu. I n 1 the imidazole group is disordered by a two-fold rotation approximately around the N . . .N direction in the imidazole group. In 3 one of the imida zole groups has a disorder involving exchange of the Cl and CH3.