Trinuclear Cu(II) complexes of a chiral N6O3 amine

Enantiopure trinuclear Cu(II) complexes 3 and 4 of macrocyclic amine 1 derived from the 3 + 3 condensation of 2,6-diformyl-4-methylphenol and (1S,2S)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane have been synthesized and characterized by ESI MS and NMR spectroscopy. The X-ray crystal structures of both complexes have been determined. The structure of the chloride derivative 3 indicates unusual combination of distorted tetragonal bipyramidal, square pyramidal and square geometries of the three Cu(II) ions bound by macrocycle 1. The acetate complex 4 also exhibits unsymmetrical trinuclear core with the bridging and terminal acetate anions. The complexation of Cu(II) ions by macrocycle 1 has been studied using potentiometric methods and both protonation and binding constants of 1 have been determined. The distribution of the complex forms indicates cooperative binding of three metal ions by 1. The overall magnetic behaviour for 3 corresponds to an antiferromagnetically coupled triangular system. Compound 4 shows the presence of antiferromagnetic coupling (J = -74.9(1) cm(-1)) between the metal centers in equilateral triangular array.