Single-crystal to single-crystal transformations in discrete hydrated dimeric copper complexes.

The single crystals of discrete hydrated [(OAc)Cu(mu-hep)(2)Cu(OAc)].2H(2)O (.2H(2)O) and [(OAc)Cu(mu-hep)(2) Cu(O(n)Pr)].2H(2)O (.2H(2)O) (the lattice H(2)O molecules exist as a tetrameric water cluster, hep-H = 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)pyridine), OAc(-) = acetate and O(n)Pr(-) = n-propionate) undergo single-crystal to single-crystal (SCSC) transformations to the dehydrated and , respectively, under the influence of heat. The reverse SCSC processes of /-->.2H(2)O/.2H(2)O involving the regeneration of the lattice water tetramers take place on exposure of / to water vapour. However, the blue single crystal of discrete hydrated [(O(n)Pr)Cu(mu-hep)(2)Cu(O(n)Pr)].2H(2)O (.2H(2)O), incorporating the two bulkier O(n)Pr(-) terminal bidentate ligands, irreversibly converts to the green single crystal of a unique discrete tetrameric [Cu(4)(mu(3)hep)(2)(mu-hep)(2)(mu-O(n)Pr)(2)(O(n)Pr)(2)] () with double open cubane core either by heating or by a simple vapour diffusion technique via the breaking and forming of multiple covalent bonds.