Synthesis, spectroscopic, magnetic and EPR studies and crystal structure of di-μ-(N-phenyl-N-methoxy-2-pyridinamine)bis[(NN) copper(II)]perchlorate, NN=2,2′-bipyridyl or 1,10-phenanthroline

Two new binuclear copper(II) complexes of formula [{Cu(bipy)}2{μ-Ph(OCH2)Npy}2](ClO4)2 (1) and [{Cu(phen)}2{μ-Ph(OCH2)Npy}2](ClO4)2 (2) (bipy=2,2′-bipyridine, phen=1,10-phenanthroline and Ph(OCH2)Npy=N-phenyl-N-methoxy-2-pyridinamine) have been prepared and characterized by chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction on single crystals, conductance measurements and IR and electronic spectroscopies. The copper environment in both complexes is distorted square pyramidal with the two α-diamine nitrogens and the two methoxo oxygens building the equatorial plane and the pyridinenitrogen occupying the axial position. Magnetic susceptibility measurements in the temperature range 4.4–291 K reveal the occurrence of ferro- (2J=+10 cm−1) (1) and antiferromagnetic (2J=−98 cm−1) (2) interactions. Signals of the triplet state are observed in the EPR spectra of both compounds.