A binuclear copper(II) complex with unusual magnetism

Abstract

A binuclear copper(II) complex [Cu₂ (μ-pyo)₂Br₄] _n (where pyo = pyridine N-oxide) has been synthesized and its structure determined by X-ray crystallography. This complex crystallizes in monoclinic, space group P2₁/c, with unit cell dimensions a = 11.020(3) Å, b = 10.049(3) Å, c = 7.905(2) Å, β = 110.609(3)°, and Z = 2. The structure was refined to final R = 0.0311 and wR = 0.0721 for 1302 observed reflections (I > 2σ(I)). In the complex, two Cu(II) ions are bridged by two pyo ligands and four bromides coordinate the Cu(II); the distance between the bridged Cu(II) ions is 3.261 Å. The variable-temperature (4–300 K) magnetic susceptibility data show that the magnetic moment is zero. Thus, there exists very strong anti-ferromagnetic coupling between the bridged binuclear Cu(II) ions. Density functional calculations yield a singlet-triplet splitting 2J = −1355 cm⁻¹.

Keywords:

• Magnetism
• DFT calculations
• Complexes

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Shandong Province Outstanding Middle-aged Scientists Research Foundation of China (Grant No. 2005BS04009) and Shandong Province College Excellence Teacher Domestic Visiting Scholar Project.