Synthesis, spectra and crystal structure of 2-({[3-(methyl{3-[(2-hydroxybenzylidene)amino]propyl} amino)propyl]imino}methyl)phenol copper(II) complex

A copper(II) complex, [Cu(salenN3], [salenN3H2 = 2-({[3-(methyl{3-[(2-hydroxybenzylidene)amino]propyl}amino)propyl]imino}methyl)phenol] was synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, FTIR spectra and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The complex crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c with a = 6.877(3), b = 14.109(6), c = 20.106(8) Angstrom, beta = 92.231(14), V = 1949.5(14) Angstrom(3). The salen ligand loses two phenolic hydrogens being a dianion and coordinates to the copper(II) ion as a pentadentate ligand through its two O and three N atoms. The copper(II) complex is five-coordinate, lying between perfect square pyramidal and trigonal-bipyramidal extremes. Use of the structural index parameter (tau) for five coordinate metal complexes indicated that the copper(II) complex exhibits a grater tendency toward trigonal-based-pyramidal geometry (tau > 0.5). The individual molecules in the crystal are held together by C-H(...)pi and (HH)-H-... interactions. The IR and electronic spectra of the complex were discussed in detail. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.