New Mixed Ligand Copper(II) Complexes: Syntheses and Crystal Structures of Cu(Imid) 2 (H 2 O)L with Imid = Imidazole, L = Succinic and Fumaric Anions

Reactions of freshly prepared Cu(OH) 2—2x (CO 3 ) x · y H 2 O and imidazole (Imid) with succinic acid and fumaric acid, respectively, in CH 3 OH/H 2 O yields Cu(Imid) 2 (H 2 O)L with L = (C 4 H 4 O 4 ) 2— ( 1 ) and (C 4 H 2 O 4 ) 2— ( 2 ). Both isostructural complexes consist of 1D   ∞ 1 [Cu(Imid) 2 (H 2 O)L 2/2 ] polymeric chains, in which the T‐shaped [Cu(Imid) 2 (H 2 O)] 2+ moieties are bridged by bis‐monodentate dicarboxylato ligands. Through the interchain hydrogen bonds between the coordinating H 2 O molecule and the non‐coordinating carboxylate O atom, the polymeric chains are assembled into 2D layers, which are further assembled via interlayer N—H···O hydrogen bonds between imidazole N atom and the coordinating carboxylato O atom. Thermal analyses of 1 under N 2 stream showed that dehydration is immediately followed by decomposition of the anhydrous “Cu(Imid) 2 (C 4 H 4 O 4 )” intermediate into imidazole and “Cu(C 4 H 4 O 4 )”. Upon further heating, sublimation of imidazole is followed by dissociation of the resulting “Cu(C 4 H 4 O 4 )” into CO, CO 2 , C 2 H 4 in gaseous phase and solid CuO as residue. Crystal data: ( 1 ) C 2/ c (no. 15), a = 13.712(2), b = 5.589(1), c = 17.517(2)Å, β = 105.76(1)°, U = 1292.0(3)Å 3 , Z = 4; ( 2 ) C 2/ c (no. 15), a = 13.758(2), b = 5.501(1), c = 17.464(2)Å, β = 106.05(2)°, U = 1270.2(3)Å 3 , Z = 4.