Synthesis and structural characterization of a novel mixed-valent CuIICuICuII triangular metallomacrocycle using an imine-based rigid ligand

A novel neutral mixed-valent (CUCU2II)-C-I triangular metal lomacrocycle [Cu3L2(HL)].3CH(3)OH.2H(2)O (1) was assembled by reaction of the tetradentate ligand bis(N-salicylidene-4,4'-diphenylamine), H2L, with a copper(II) salt. ESI-MS show peaks only corresponding to the triangular structural species, indicating the high stability of the trimer structure in solution. Magnetic study confirms that there are two Cu-II ions and one Cu-I ion in a discrete triangular molecule. The crystal structure of 1 reveals that the triangle is formed by three deprotonated ligands and three copper ions with a (CuCu)-Cu-... separation of ca. 11.8 Angstrom. Each copper atom is coordinated by two oxygen atoms and two nitrogen atoms from two different bis-bidentate ligands in a heavily distorted tetrahedral geometry, while each ligand is bound to two metal ions in a bis-bidentate coordination mode and links the metal centers overlapping in an unprogressive manner. Strong intramolecular pi(...)pi interactions between the ligands are found to stabilize the constraint conformation of the triangle. Electrochemical study reveals that the mixed-valent (CUCU2II)-C-I complex is the most stable state in solution condition, and the electrochemical communication between the copper ions might be explained on the basis of the through-bond interaction. UV-vis-NIR spectral measurement demonstrates the Robin-Day class II behavior of the mixed-valence compound with a weak copper-copper interaction.