Hydrothermal synthesis, crystal structure and property of a barbell-like copper complex with {(μ-F)[(μ-O)2(NbF4)2]} as the handle bar

A new Cu-Nb mixed complex, [{Cu2(phen)4(μ-O)2(NbF4)2}(μ-F)][NbF6] (1) (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), was hydrothermally synthesized, and characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectra, thermogravimetric analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 exhibits a discrete barbell-like copper cluster with {(μ-F)[(μ-O)2(NbF4)2]} fragment as the handle bar, and [NbF6]− is a counter-anion. Fluorescent property, solubility, and electrochemical property of compound 1 were studied.