Metal complexes of 4 '-(3-phenylpropoxy)-2,2 ': 6 ',2 ''-terpyridine and 4'-(3-propoxy)-2,2 ': 6 ',2 ''-terpyridine

Reaction of 4'-chloro-2,2':6',2"-terpyridine with 3-phenyl-n-propanol or n- propanol in the presence of excess KOH in dmso, respectively, yields 4'-(3- phenylpropoxy)-2,2':6',2"-terpyridine (L-2) and 4'-(3-propoxy)-2,2':6',2"-t erpyridine (L-3). The following complexes of these two ligands have been pr epared: [{Cu(mu -Cl)L}(2)](BF4)(2), [Cu(NCMe)(L)](BF4)(2), [PdCl(L)]BF4 and [PtCl(L)]BF4 (L = L-2, L-3). Recrystallisation of [Cu(NCMe)(L-2)](BF4)(2) from PhCN/Et2O yields [Cu(NCPh)(L-2)](BF4)(2), whose crystal structure show s a square planar Cu(Il) ion with substantial disorder in the PhCN ligand a nd 3-phenylpropoxy tail. The single crystal structure of [PdCl(L-2)]BF4. 2C H(3)NO(2) contains a square planar Pd(II) centre. Neither of these structur es, nor the solution spectroscopic or electrochemical data from the complex es, provide any evidence for intramolecular pi-pi interactions between the terpyridine ring and phenylpropoxy substituent. (Non-SI unit employed: 1 G = 10(-4) T.) (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.