Oxime-functionalized diazamesocyclic derivates and their metal complexes: Effect of the ligand backbones and anions on the generation of novel monomeric and mono-μ-Cl dimeric CuII complexes

Two oxime-functionalized diazamesocyclic derivates, namely, N,N′-bis(acetophenoneoxime)-1,4-diazacycloheptane (H2L1) and N,N′-bis(acetophenonoxime)-1,5-diazacyclooctane (H2L2), have been prepared and characterized. Both ligands (obtained in the hydrochloride form) can form stable metal complexes with CuII and NiII salts, the crystal structures of which were determined by X-ray diffraction technique. The reactions of H2L1 with Cu(ClO4)2 and Ni(ClO4)2 afford a penta-coordinated mononuclear complex [Cu(H2L1)Cl] · ClO4 (1) and a four-coordinated monomeric [Ni(HL1)] · ClO4 (2), in which the ligand is monodeprotonated. The ligand H2L2 also forms a quite similar mononuclear [Ni(HL2)] · ClO4 complex with Ni(ClO4)2, according to our previous work. However, reactions of different CuII salts [Cu(ClO4)2, CuCl2 and Cu(NO3)2 for 3, and CuSO4 for 4] with H2L2 in the presence of NaClO4 yield two unusual mono-μ-Cl dinuclear CuII complexes [Cu2(HL2)2Cl] · (ClO4) (3), and [Cu2(H2L2)(HL2)Cl] · (ClO4)2 · (H2O)(4). These results indicate that the resultant CuII complexes (1, 3 and 4) are sensitive to the backbones of diazamesocycles and even auxiliary anions.