First use of the maleamate(−1) ligand in coordination chemistry: Dinuclear copper(II) complexes with N-donors and their interesting 'organic' chemistry

The reaction systems Cu(ClO4)2 · 6H2O/−OOC-CHCH-CONH2/phen or bppy, where phen = 1,10-phenanthroline and bppy = 2,6-bis(pyrazol-1-yl)pyridine, give ternary cationic dimers, whose chemical and structural identity depends on the solvent used; maleamate(−1) complexes are isolated in MeCN, whereas a novel copper(II)-assisted transformation of the maleamate(−1) ligand to monomethyl maleate(−1) has occurred in MeOH.