A novel trinuclear copper(II) complex containing a symmetric tetradentate N2O2 Schiff base ligand: Synthesis, characterization, crystal structure and its usage as a new precursor for the preparation of CuO particles

Abstract

A novel linear centrosymmetric trinuclear copper(II) Schiff base complex with the chemical formula [{Cu(μ-L)(H2O)(μ-NO3)}2Cu]·H2O, where L=N,N′-bis(2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine, was synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, FT-IR spectroscopy, TG-TA and X-ray crystallography. Single X-ray diffraction analysis revealed four μ-phenoxido- and two μ-NO3− bridges in the complex. The equatorial plane of the three linearly arranged copper(II) atoms is formed by oxygen and nitrogen atoms of two anionic tetradentate Schiff base ligands, each of them coordinated to one of the terminal copper(II) ions. The central copper(II) ion is located in an inversion centre and bonded to four μ-oxygen atoms of the same ligand. Thermogravimetric analysis of the complex revealed its thermal stability and decomposition pattern. Finally, the complex was used for the preparation of CuO particles by solid state thermal decomposition.