Synthesis of a novel tetranuclear Cu(II) complex with the dinucleating ligand α,α′-bis(N-1,4,7-triazacyclononane)-m-xylene (XYL-tacn): first crystal structure of [(CuCl)4(XYL-tacn)2(μ-Cl)2][PF6]2

Reaction of the ligand α,α′-bis(N-1,4,7-triazacyclononane)-m-xylene (XYL-tacn) with copper(II) chloride and sodium hexafluorophosphate in acetonitrile/methanol leads to the assembly of a remarkable tetranuclear copper(II) complex. The crystal structure and magnetic properties of the novel tetranuclear Cu(II) complex are reported. The complex exhibits an unusual [(CuCl)4(μ-Cl)2] binding mode with a Cu··· Cu distance of 6.856(3) Å.