Synthesis of two dicopper(II) complexes of L-carnitine: The first structural determination of a metal complex containing L-carnitine

Two dimeric copper(II) complexes of the biologically important compound L-carnitine were isolated from ethanolic and aqueous solutions with formulas [Cu-2(L-carnitine)(2)Cl-2(H2O)(2)] center dot Cl-2 (complex 1) and [Cu-2(L-carnitine)(4)(H2O)(2)] center dot (ClO4)(4) center dot H2O center dot CH2O2 (complex 2), respectively. Complex 1 was characterized in solid state by elemental analysis, thermal analysis (TG, DTG), IR and EPR as well as in solution with cationic and anionic ESMS, EPR, NMR and UV-Vis spectroscopies. For complex 2, crystals were isolated after recrystallization and characterized by X-ray crystallography, elemental analysis, IR and NMR spectroscopies. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.