Synthesis and crystal structure of a copper(II) complex of deprotonated N,N′-bis(2-pyridinecarboxamide)-2,2′-biphenyl: Comparative redox study of CuN4 pyridine amide complexes

A new distorted square planar (two CuN2 planes making an angle of ∼43°) copper(II) complex [Cu(L4)] · 0.5EtOH · 0.5MeOH (1) of a deprotonated tetradentate pyridine amide ligand [H2L4 = N,N′-bis(2-pyridinecarboxamide)-2,2′-biphenyl] has been synthesized and structurally characterized. Absorption and EPR spectroscopic properties have also been studied. The E1/2 values (CuII/CuI redox process) of the title complex along with a selected group of structurally characterized CuN4 pyridine amide complexes with systematically varied structural, electronic/steric, and chelate-ring size effects, imposed by the coordinating ligands, have been determined and the observed trend has been rationalized.