Issue 4, 2005

Effect of carboxylate spacers on the supramolecular self-assembly of dicopper(ii) Schiff base complexes stabilizing water assemblies of different conformations

Abstract

Dicopper(II) complexes, namely [Cu2L(O2C–CH[double bond, length as m-dash]CH–C6H4-p-OH)]·2H2O (1·2H2O), [Cu2L(O2C–CH2–C6H4-p-OH)]·2H2O (2·2H2O) and [Cu2L(O2C–CH2CH2–C6H4-p-OH)]·0.5H2O (3·0.5H2O), having different carboxylate ligands with a p-hydroxyphenyl moiety and the pentadentate Schiff base N,N′-1,3-diylbis(salicylaldimino)propan-2-ol (H3L) in its trianionic form, were prepared and structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. The complexes have a dicopper(II) unit with an alkoxo bridge from the Schiff base and the carboxylate, showing a three-atom bridging mode. The metal centres in a square planar CuNO3 coordination geometry are antiferromagnetically coupled in the asymmetrically double-bridged dicopper(II) core. A significant effect of the –CH[double bond, length as m-dash]CH–, –CH2– and –CH2CH2– spacers of the carboxylate ligands on the formation of different supramolecular structures is observed. Complex [Cu2L(O2C–CH[double bond, length as m-dash]CH–C6H4-p-OH)], 1, forms a helical supramolecular structure due to hydrogen-bonding interactions involving the p-hydroxy group of the phenol from the carboxylate and one phenoxo oxygen atom from the Schiff base. The lattice waters form a helical one-dimensional chain, in which alternate water molecules are anchored to the supramolecular host and the chain propagates along the crystallographic 21 screw axis. Complex 2 forms water aggregates of quasi-linear and pseudo-hexameric cyclic chair conformations involving lattice water molecules, and the previously mentioned para OH group phenoxo oxygen atom. Complex 3·0.5H2O shows the formation of a supramolecular one-dimensional chain structure due to hydrogen-bonding interactions between the p-OH group and the phenoxo oxygen atom. Two such supramolecular structures are linked by hydrogen-bonding interactions involving the lattice water. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of 1·2H2O gives two endotherms at 61.5 and 88.5 °C for the loss of the “free” and the “anchored” water molecules, respectively. The overall change of enthalpy per water molecule is ∼36 kJ mol−1. Complex 2·2H2O shows an endotherm at 131 °C with a shoulder at ∼126 °C. The enthalpy change per water molecule is ∼26 kJ mol−1. The reversibility in loss or addition of lattice water molecules and the corresponding effect on the overall structure is probed by X-ray powder diffraction studies.

Graphical abstract: Effect of carboxylate spacers on the supramolecular self-assembly of dicopper(ii) Schiff base complexes stabilizing water assemblies of different conformations

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
14 Oct 2004
Accepted
05 Jan 2005
First published
03 Mar 2005

New J. Chem., 2005,29, 596-603

Effect of carboxylate spacers on the supramolecular self-assembly of dicopper(II) Schiff base complexes stabilizing water assemblies of different conformations

A. Mukherjee, M. K. Saha, M. Nethaji and A. R. Chakravarty, New J. Chem., 2005, 29, 596 DOI: 10.1039/B415945D

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