Copper(II) dinuclear pyrazine-based rack-type complexes: preparation, structure, and magnetic properties.

A novel class of ditopic ligands, 1, was synthesized by the reaction of 2,5-pyrazine-dicarboxaldehyde with 2 equiv of acyl-/aroyl-hydrazine. Their structures were confirmed by 1D and 2D NMR and by X-ray crystallography. They gave heteroleptic Cu(II) dinuclear rack-like complexes of the formula [Cu(2)1(terpy)(2)](OTf)(4), thus undergoing shape changes of significant amplitude. The solid-state structures of these complexes were determined by X-ray crystallography. The magnetic measurements performed on the complexes revealed the presence of antiferromagnetic intramolecular interactions.