Synthesis and characterization of two acetato-bridged dinuclear copper(II) complexes with 4-bromo-2-((4 or 6-methylpyridin-2-ylimino)methyl)phenol as ligand

Abstract

The synthesis and characterization of two new acetato-bridged dinuclear copper(II) complexes are described. Both compounds have the general formula [Cu(L)(µ-O2C–CH3)]2, in which L = 4-bromo-2-((4-methylpyridin-2-ylimino)methyl)phenol or 4-bromo-2-((6-methylpyridin-2-ylimino)methyl)phenol. The title compounds consist of dinuclear units with bridging acetato groups and a ligand linked to each copper via the phenol oxygen and nitrogen. Both compounds were synthesized in a one-step reaction and characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), electron spin resonance (ESR), and electronic spectra and by room temperature magnetic moments. The compounds exhibit antiferromagnetic interactions at room temperature. UV-Vis spectra show four absorptions attributed to d–d transitions of copper, ligand → metal charge transfer and π → π* or n → π* transitions of ligand. The FTIR spectra indicate a Cu2O4C2 ring vibration. Both complexes show room temperature magnetic moments of about 1.6 B.M. per copper. The X-band ESR studies indicate a weak half-field band, characteristic of the Cu(II)–Cu(II) dimer, observed at 1552 and 1558 G for the complexes, strongly suggesting that the hyperfine structure arises from a spin triplet species. The spectra of frozen samples in DMSO or DMF at liquid nitrogen temperature show a typical Δm = 1 transition.