A tetra-nuclear copper(II) complex stabilizes an extended structure of a water nonamer: Synthesis and characterization of [Cu4(C54H46N4O14)(OH)2] · 10H2O

A tetra-nuclear copper(II) complex [Cu4(C54H46N4O14)(OH)2] · 10H2O (1) has been synthesized starting from l-tyrosine, NaOH, 2,6-diformyl-4-methylphenol (dfp) and CuSO4 · 5H2O. Compound 1 crystallizes from an ethanol–water mixture in triclinic P1¯ space group. In the crystal of 1, two binuclear copper units, related by a center of symmetry, are bridged by two hydroxo bridges and results in the formation of a tetra-nuclear {Cu4} structure. Five lattice water molecules, located in the asymmetric unit, interact among themselves and form an unusual form of a water nonamer. In the crystal, the water nonamer is again hydrogen bonded to the next nonamer forming a chainlike polymer. Each {Cu4} complex unit attaches four such water nonamer chains. Variable temperature magnetic data fit to the Bleaney–Bower’s equation with a Curie type of impurity of S = 0.5. The best fit of the magnetic data to this equation yielded 2J = −217, g = 2.019 and a TIP value of 60 × 10−6 cm3 mol−1.

An unusual form of water nonamer, consisting of an “S”-shaped water hexamer and a near-linear water trimer, has been identified in a crystalline hydrate of a tetra-nuclear copper(II) complex. The water nonamer, in turn, self assembles to an extended water structure that is anchored by the (host) copper complex through non-covalent supramolecular interactions.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide