Scalene-tricopper(II) bridged by 5-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl-1H-imidazole-4-carboxylic acid: Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties

New scalene tricopper complex [Cu-3(II)(HImbm)(bipy)6](ClO4)(4) center dot 3CH(3)OH center dot 4H(2)O (1) (H(3)Imbm = 5-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-y1)-1H-imidazole-4-carboxylic acid, bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine) was synthesized. X-ray analysis reveals that 1 crystallizes in monoclinic P2(1)/c. Complex 1 can be described as three terminal [Cu(bpy)(2)](2+) units bridged by one asymmetric H(3)Imbm ligand with its peripheral three chelating pockets to capture three Cu atoms in a scalene-triangular geometry. The variable-temperature magnetic measurement was recorded for the crystallographically characterized 1, and the magnetic response was analyzed very well using a scalene triangle Cu3 model, indicating a dominant antiferromagnetic coupling with J(12) = 44.3 cm(-1), J(23) = -27.3 cm(-1), and g = 2.08, given J(13) = 0. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.