A new dinuclear CuII-SmIII complex with a salen-type Schiff base ligand

The title complex (systematic name: diaqua{6,6 '-dimethoxy2,20-[1,2-ethanediylbis(nitrilomethylidyne)] diphenolato} dinitratosamarium(III) copper(II) nitrate), [CuSm(C18H18N2O4)( NO3)(2)(H2O)(2)]NO3, is composed of a discrete dinuclear cation with a salen-type Schiff base ligand and one uncoordinated nitrate anion. The copper and samarium are doubly bridged by two phenolate O atoms provided by the Schiff base ligand. There are some classical intermolecular hydrogen bonds (O - H center dot center dot center dot O), and some weak O center dot center dot center dot Cu and N center dot center dot center dot Cu interactions are also observed. These interactions generate a two-dimensional infinite layer.