Synthesis, structures and characterization of metal complexes containing 4′-phenyl-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine ligands with extended π⋯π interactions

•Four complexes containing 4′-phenyl-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine (Phterpy) were synthesized and characterized.•Intermolecular π-stacking interactions between Phterpy being I, II, III and IV are observed.•Some of π⋯π interactions involved is rare, such as in II above.

Four complexes [Cu (Phterpy)Cl2]·2H2O (1), [Cu (Phterpy)Cl2]·[Cu (Phterpy)Cl2]·CH3OH (2), [(Phterpy) ClMn(μ-Cl)2 MnCl (Phterpy)]·2[Mn(Phterpy)Cl2].2CH3OH (3), [Fe (Phterpy)2] (FeCl4)·CH3OH (4) (Phterpy = 4′-phenyl-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine), were synthesized and characterized by IR, 1H NMR and X-ray diffraction analysis. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses display that, in 1, 2, 3 and 4, the units [Cu (Phterpy)Cl2] and [Mn(Phterpy)Cl2] are five-coordinate, and the units [(Phterpy) ClMn(μ-Cl)2 MnCl (Phterpy)] and [Fe (Phterpy)2] are six-coordinate, and all of these complexes in the packing structure contain π⋯π stacking interaction between the Phterpy ligands, with four variations in stacking patterns. Moreover, some of the weak interactions in the crystal are also observed.

Graphical abstractA series of [M(Phterpy)]2+ and [M(Phterpy)2]2+ complexes were synthesized and characterized. The intermolecular π-stacking interactions that can be expected for complexes with Phterpy ligands are I, II, III and IV.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide