Dynamic behavior of the Jahn-Teller distorted Cu(H(2)O)(6)(2+) ion in Cu(2+) doped Cs(2)[Zn(H(2)O)(6)](ZrF(6))(2) and the crystal structure of the host lattice.

The temperature dependence of the X- and Q-band EPR spectra of Cs(2)[Zn(H(2)O)(6)](ZrF(6))(2) containing approximately 1% Cu(2+) is reported. All three molecular g-values vary with temperature, and their behavior is interpreted using a model in which the potential surface of the Jahn-Teller distorted Cu(H(2)O)(6)(2+) ion is perturbed by an orthorhombic "strain" induced by interactions with the surrounding lattice. The strain parameters are significantly smaller than those reported previously for the Cu(H(2)O)(6)(2+) ion in similar lattices. The temperature dependence of the two higher g-values suggests that in the present compound the lattice interactions change slightly with temperature. The crystal structure of the Cs(2)[Zn(H(2)O)(6)](ZrF(6))(2) host is reported, and the geometry of the Zn(H(2)O)(6)(2+) ion is correlated with lattice strain parameters derived from the EPR spectrum of the guest Cu(2+) complex.