Unprecedented tetranuclear complexes with "weighing balance shaped" topology: single crystal structures, unusual EPR spectra, magnetic properties and antioxidant activity.

Using the 2-hydroxy-N'-[(E)-phenyl(pyridin-2-yl)methylidene]benzohydrazide ligand and dicarboxylate anions (succinate and malonate), two new copper(ii) complexes of formula [Cu4(µ-L)4(µ-CH2(COO)2)(H2O)3](NO3)2·4H2O (1) and [Cu4(µ-L)4(µ-CH2-CH2(COO)2)(H2O)](NO3)2] (2) have been synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Complexes 1 and 2 contain a dicarboxylate bridged tetranuclear Cu(ii) cationic unit with "weighing balance shaped" topology. These compounds have also been studied by variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements, X-band EPR spectroscopy and electrochemistry. The unprecedented tetranuclear copper complexes 1 and 2 exhibit antiferromagnetic interactions between adjacent copper(ii) centers with magnetic exchange coupling constants (J) of J1 = -6.8 cm-1, J2 = -20.6 cm-1 and g = 2.03 for 1 and J1 = -3.1 cm-1, J2 = -13.9 cm-1 and g = 2.02 for 2. The goal for our research work is to understand the factors that govern the stability of the Cu-O(-O-C-O-) bond towards reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Cu-containing mimics utilizing a systematic approach. The antioxidant superoxide dismutase measurements indicate that these complexes behave as superoxide dismutase mimics.

Classical hydrogen bonding and stacking of chelate rings in new copper(ii) complexes.

Three new copper(ii) complexes, viz., [Cu(L)(NO3)(H2O)]H2O 1, [Cu(L)(H2O)2]NO32 and [Cu2(L)2(pyrazine)](ClO4)2·4H2O 3, were prepared using a biomimetic synthesis strategy [HL = 4-chloro-2-{(E)-[2-(pyridin-2-yl)hydrazinylidene]methyl}phenol]. Structural characterization revealed very different local geometries around copper(ii) ions, being square pyramidal for mononuclear complexes (τ5 = 0.021 for 1 and τ5 = 0.13 for 2) and square planar for homobinuclear pyrazine bridged complex 3 (τ4 = 0.06). In complex 3, stacking of chelate rings was observed. This insight was thought to provide new structural evidence for the stacking of the planar chelate rings. These π-interactions provide stability to the crystal structure of homobinuclear complex 3. Magnetic measurements of bulk materials 1, 2 and 3 revealed weak antiferromagnetic coupling in all complexes. The EPR spectra of complexes 1, 2 and 3 in polycrystalline state exhibited broad signals at g ≅ 2.15 owing to spin-spin interactions between two copper ions. The cyclic voltammograms of mononuclear complexes (1 and 2) in DMSO gave one CuII/CuI irreversible wave. On the other hand, pyrazine bridged binuclear complex 3 exhibited two waves, which correspond to CuIICuII/CuIICuI and CuIICuI/CuICuI redox processes. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) experiments also exhibited the same reduction behavior. These complexes displayed effective antioxidant SOD activity and exhibit the outlines of a structure-based cyclic mechanism. On the basis of experimental and theoretical DFT studies, the structure-activity relationships of these complexes have also been discussed.