An example of a cis-distorted octahedral copper(II) complex: the crystal structure of nitritobis-2,2′-bipyridylcopper(II) nitrate

Abstract

The crystal structure of nitritobis-2,2′-bipyridylcopper(II) nitrate has been determined by X-ray diffraction methods using three-dimensional data. The complex crystallises in the monoclinic unit cell, space group P2₁/n, with dimensions a= 11·101, b= 12·058, c= 15·385 Å, and β= 99° 10′, and Z= 4. The copper(II) ion is six-co-ordinate, with the two colinear short Cu–N bonds at 1·99 Å, two intermediate length Cu–N bonds of 2·08 Å at 103° to each other, and two long Cu–O (2·24, 2·33 Å) from the chelating nitrite group. The environment about the copper(II) ion is best regarded as a cis-distorted octahedron and the approximate symmetry of the [Cu bipy₂-ONO]⁺ cation is C₂.