Crystal structure of a noval µ-hydroxo copper(II) piperazine–phenal complex containing a short copper–copper distance and displaying weak exchange coupling

Abstract

The crystal structure of a binuclear Cu^II complex which contains both µ phenoxo and µ-hydroxo bridging groups as well as two terminal piperazine N and one water O atoms on each Cu shows a very short Cu–Cu distance [2.872(2)Å] and an unusual pyramidal geometry around the phenoxo O atom; this complex is unusual in that no net antiferromagnetic coupling is evident and reasons are put forward to explain this reduced coupling.