Mononuclear Cu(II) and triple helical dinuclear Co(II) complexes of a new potentially tetradentate ligand containing inequivalent bidentate units

Reaction of the potentially tetradentate ligand L4 with Co(ClO4)2 gives the dinuclear triple helicate [Co2(L4)3](ClO4)4 with the ligand L4 partitioning into two N,N-bidentate units (phenanthroline and thiazolyl–pyridine); in contrast, reaction of L4 with Cu(ClO4)2 affords the mononuclear complex [Cu(L4)(OH2)(ClO4)](ClO4) in which L4 acts as a terdentate ligand via the phenanthroline and thiazolyl units, with the pyridyl group pendant but hydrogen-bonded to the water ligand.