Comparison of copper imine and amine podates: geometric consequences of podand size and donor type.

The imine podands tris[(2-nitrobenzylidene)aminoethyl]amine and tris[(2-nitrobenzylidene)aminopropyl]amine both stabilize copper(I), forming {tris[(2-nitrobenzylidene)aminoethyl]amine-kappa4N}copper(I) perchlorate acetonitrile disolvate, [Cu(C27H27N7O6)]ClO4.2CH3CN, (II), and {tris[(2-nitrobenzylidene)aminopropyl]amine-kappa4N}copper(I) perchlorate, [Cu(C30H33N7O6)]ClO4, (VI), respectively. The larger propyl-based ligand is a poorer fit for the CuI ion. The reduced amine podand tris[(2-nitrobenzyl)aminoethyl]amine binds CuII and the resulting compound, chloro{tris[(2-nitrobenzyl)aminoethyl]amine-kappa4N}copper(II) chloride ethanol solvate, [Cu(C27H33N7O6)Cl]Cl.C2H5OH, (IV), shows both intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonding, which gives rise to RRS or SSR conformations in the podand strands rather than the expected pseudo-threefold symmetry.