Self-assembled tetrameric H₂O clusters in the crystal lattice of [Cu(μ²-OH){Ph₂P(O)NP(O)Ph₂-κ¹O,O′}(1,10-phen-κ²N,N′)]₂·2H₂O

Abstract

The synthesis and characterization of the dinuclear Cu(II) complex [Cu(μ²-OH){Ph₂P(O)NP(O)Ph₂-κ¹O,O′}(1,10-phen-κ²N,N′)]₂·2H₂O (1), 1,10-phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, is described. X-ray crystallographic studies reveal that the Cu(II) centers of 1 are bridged by two OH⁻ groups and are coordinated by the (O,O) = Ph₂P(O)NP(O)Ph₂⁻ ligand in a monodentate fashion, unprecedented for Cu(II). The crystal lattice of 1 also contains H₂O molecules, which are involved in the formation of a hydrogen bonding network with bridging OH⁻ groups and noncoordinated O atoms of the (O,O) ligand. These H₂O molecules are arranged in the crystal lattice of 1 as tetrameric clusters. The packing of molecules in the structure of 1 was investigated by Hirshfeld Surface analysis.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Dinuclear copper(II) complex
• Imidodiphosphinato ligand
• Hydroxo bridge
• Hirshfeld Surface analysis
• H₂O Cluster

Acknowledgements

This work was supported, in part, by the Special Account for Research Grants of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. M.T. is grateful to the General Secretariat for Research and Technology (G.S.R.T.) and the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (H.F.R.I.) for a scholarship supporting her PhD studies. P.K. has participated in the activities of the Cost Action CM1305 (ECOSTBio) and would like to thank the rest of the ECOSTBio members, as well as Dr I.D. Kostas (National Hellenic Research Foundation), for helpful discussions. The reviewers of the manuscript are thanked for their constructive comments.