Hydroxycarboxylato Complexes of Copper(II): Synthesis and Characterization

Abstract

Substitution reactions of anhydrous copper(II) acetate with some higher carboxylic acids and hydroxycarboxylic acids were carried out in toluene under reflux. The isolated products; Cu(OOCR)(OOCR′), Cu(OOCR)(OOCR″) and Cu(OOCR)(OOCR″′) [where R = C₁₃H₂₇, C₁₇H₃₅ or C₂₁H₄₃ and R′ = C₆H₄OH, R″ = C₆H₅CH(OH) and R″′ = (C₆H₅)₂C(OH)] were characterized by elemental analyses, spectral (infrared and electronic) analyses and conductivity measurements. IR spectra suggest the presence of bidentate-bridging coordination of carboxylate anions in the complexes. Magnetic moment measurement and electron spin resonance spectral data suggest antiferromagnetic coupling between two copper atoms. The dinuclear nature of the complexes was confirmed by molecular weight determinations.