Proton and anion control of framework complexity in copper(II) complex structures derived from 2-(hydroxymethyl)pyridine

Three copper(II) complexes derived from 2-(hydroxymethyl)pyridine (LH) have been synthesised and a comparative X-ray investigation of their respective crystal structures undertaken. In the absence of added base, LH reacts with copper(II) chloride or nitrate to yield the five-coordinate [Cu(LH)2Cl]Cl and six-coordinate [Cu(LH)2(NO3)2] species. In the chloro complex the coordination geometry is distorted trigonal bipyramidal, with the pyridyl nitrogens occupying the axial position and two hydroxyl oxygens from the bidentate ligands together with a chloro group occupying the equatorial sites. The structure of the nitrate species, published previously, has been reinvestigated at low temperature in order to specify the weak interactions in the crystal; it contains two molecules of bidentate LH bound trans in the equatorial plane while monodentate nitrato ligands occupy the axial sites. In each of these complexes the hydroxyl protons act as hydrogen bond donors, interacting with the non-coordinated chloride anion in [Cu(LH)2Cl]Cl and the coordinated nitrato groups in [Cu(LH)2(NO3)2] to form bridged, hydrogen-bonded, copper(II)-organic arrays in each case; offset face-to-face π-stacking in the latter produces a two dimensional structure. Further weak CH⋯Cl, CH⋯O interactions stabilise both arrangements. The X-ray structure of the complex [Cu(L)2] · 4H2O containing the deprotonated ligand is also described. The presence of the latter results in the above hydrogen bonding arrangements being ‘switched off’ and instead a new two-dimensional network involving bridging tetrameric water clusters hydrogen bound to adjacent ligand hydroxo groups to give extended sheets is generated; offset face-to-face π-stacking occurs between sheets to yield a three dimensional array.