{6,6′-Diethoxy-2,2′-[ethane-1,2-diylbis(nitrilomethylidyne)]diphenolato}trinitratosamarium(III)copper(II)

A heteronuclear Cu-II-Sm-III complex ( systematic name: {6,6'-diethoxy- 2,2'[ethane-1,2-diylbis( nitrilomethylidyne)] diphenolato1- kappa O-4(1),O-1',O-6,O-6': 2 kappa O-4(1),N,N',O-1'} trinitrato-1 kappa O-6,O'-samarium( III) copper( II)), [ CuSm( C20H22N2O4)( NO3)(3)], with the hexadentate Schiff base compartmental ligand N, N'-bis( 3-ethoxysalicylidene) ethylene-1,2 diamine, has been synthesized and structurally characterized. The Cu and Sm atoms are doubly bridged by two phenolate O atoms provided by the Schiff base ligand. The coordination of the Cu atom is square planar, formed by two imine N and two phenolate O atoms. The Sm III atom has a decacoordination environment, formed by the phenolate O atoms, two ethoxy O atoms and two O atoms each from the three nitrates. No classical intermolecular hydrogen bonds are found. Some weak C-H center dot center dot center dot O and O center dot center dot center dot Cu interactions [ O center dot center dot center dot Cu = 3.167 ( 4) angstrom] generate a two-dimensional zigzag sheet.