Synthesis and crystal structure of mononuclear copper(II) complex of tridentate Schiff base ligand and its ferrocyanide-bridged pentanuclear complex

The compound [Cu(L)(OAc)H2O] (1) (HL is a tridentate Schiff base derived fr om 2-hydroxyacetophenone and 2-dimethylaminoethylamine) has been synthesize d and its crystal structure has been determined. The addition of [Fe(CN)(6) ](4-) to [Cu(L)(OAc)H2O] gives the pentanuclear complex [(CuL)(4)Fe(CN)(6)] . 16H(2)O (2). Four Cu(II) centres are joined to a single Fe(II) centre via cyanide bridges. The two remaining cyanide groups on the iron are terminal . The presence of sixteen water molecules per pentanuclear complex has been confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis and the activation energy for the elimination of water has been computed and found to be 57 kJ mol(-1). (C) 2 001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.