Synthesis and structure of mono-, di- and tri-nuclear copper(II) benzoate complexes with a tridentate N2O donor Schiff base ligand

► Three Cu(II) compounds with Schiff base were synthesized. ► The molecular structures have been elucidated on the basis of X-ray crystallography. ► The co-ordination polyhedron around each copper atom is best described as an elongated (4 + 1) square pyramid. ► A rare μ-1,1,3 carboxylate bridging is observed in a compound.