Copper(II) benzoate dimers coordinated by different linear alcohols – A systematic study of crystal structures

Three new copper(II) benzoates coordinated by 1-propanol, [Cu2(PhCOO)4(1-PrOH)2] [Cu2(PhCOO)4(H2O)2] (3), 1-butanol, [Cu2(PhCOO)4(1-BuOH)2] (4) and 1-pentanol, [Cu2(PhCOO)4(1-PentOH)2] (5) at the available metal coordination sites, have been prepared and investigated with reference to their X-ray crystal structures. In all cases, dimeric paddle-wheel complexes where two copper(II) ions are held together by four benzoates were found. Moreover, the complexes show 1-propanol and water (3), 1-butanol (4) and 1-pentanol (5) coordinated to the free coordination sites of the Cu(II) ions. The dimeric complex units are connected with each other by strong OH⋯O hydrogen bonds to form strands linked together via weaker CH⋯O and CH⋯π interactions. Comparative discussion including the redetermined crystal structures obtained from copper(II) benzoate in the presence of methanol (1) or ethanol (2) allows to draw argumentation regarding the coordination of linear alcohols in corresponding crystals of paddle-wheel complexes.