Structural and Magnetic Characterization of a Linear Trinuclear Copper Complex Formed through Ligand Sharing

Reaction of bis(2‐hydroxybenzyl)‐1,3‐diamino‐2‐propanol (H 2 bhbdp) with copper perchlorate in methanol leads to the assembly of a trinuclear complex with the general formula [Cu 3 (bhbdp) 2 (CH 3 OH) 2 (ClO 4 ) 2 ] ( 1 ). The complex was characterized by X‐ray crystallography, Ligand Field, IR and ESR spectroscopy, and magnetic susceptibility. The structure of the complex contains a linear trinuclear array of copper ions [the Cu(1)−Cu(2)−Cu(1a) angle is 180° by symmetry], in octahedral, square planar and octahedral environments, respectively. The external Cu1 and Cu1a centers are coordinated by two amine nitrogens, two phenolate oxygen donors, one methoxide oxygen and one oxygen from a perchlorate, while the central Cu2 is coordinated by four phenolate oxygens through ligand sharing. A strong antiferromagnetic interaction between the adjacent Cu II ions dominates the magnetic properties of 1 leading to an S = 1/2 ground state which is fully populated below 150 K. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2003)