Synthesis, Characterization, and Crystal Structure of a Novel Copper(II) Complex with an Asymmetric Coordinated 2,2'-Bipyridine Derivative: A Model for the Associative Complex in the Ligand-Substitution Reactions of [Cu(tren)L](2+)?

The titled compound, (tris(2-aminoethyl)amine)(4,5-diazafluoren-9-one) copper(II) perchlorate, [Cu(C(6)H(18)N(4))(C(11)H(6)N(2)O)(ClO(4))(2)], 1, has been designed, synthesized, and characterized. The electronic and ESR spectra are very different from those of [Cu(tren)L](2+) complexes where L is monodentate ligand. The X-ray analysis revealed that the complex crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c, with a = 10.726(6) Å, b = 14.921(7) Å, c = 14.649(4) Å, beta = 95.13(3) degrees, and Z = 4. The copper(II) ion is coordinated by four nitrogen atoms from tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (tren) and two nitrogen atoms from 4,5-diazafluoren-9-one (dzf) to form an unusual six-coordinate (4 + 1 + 1') geometry. The structure is very rare, and to our knowledge, it is the first example of an asymmetric bidentate phenanthroline derivative metal complex. The structure could be used as a model of the associative complex in the ligand-exchange and ligand-substitution reactions of [Cu(tren)L](2+) and the catalytic mechanisms of enzymes involving copper sites. From the electronic and variable-temperature ESR spectra in solution, the possible mechanism of these reactions has also been proposed. As a comparison, the complex [Cu(tren)(ImH)(ClO(4))(2)], 2, was also synthesized and characterized, where ImH is imidazole.