Electron paramagnetic resonance and crystallographic resolution of an axially compressed octahedral complex [Cu(terpyR8)2](ClO4)2 containing the C8 alkyl-chain ligand terpyR8; 4′-octoxy-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine

Introduction of a long alkyl chain in to the periphery of the terpy ligands in a six-coordinate CuL22+ complex has yielded minor structural consequences in the crystal while the detailed EPR data on solids and frozen solutions reveals similar behaviour to the parent terpy system but with unusual temperature dependent spectra involving solute-solute and solute-solvent interactions in frozen solutions, the spectra in both phases being characteristic of a dx2-y2 ground configuration.