Templated metalophilicity: synthesis of halometallic double salts directed by a dicopper(i) hydrazinyl-tetraimine nanocation

Abstract

A nanometric size dication [Cu₂(dih)₂]²⁺ (where dih – 1,2-di[[2-(pyridin-2-yl)hydrazin-1-ylidene]methyl]benzene) of a molecular volume of 0.5 nm³ is described. The solvothermal synthesis and crystal structures of a new class of inclusion double salts, exhibiting d¹⁰–d¹⁰ and d¹⁰–d⁵ metallophilicity, of the formula [Cu₂(dih)₂]₂[Cu_{(4 − y)}M^yCl₈], where M is either Cu⁺ or heterometal of valency y (in this paper Mn²⁺ or La³⁺), are reported. UV-vis spectroscopy and square-wave voltammetry complement the characterisation of the luminescent salts.