Tris(2,2'-azobispyridine) complexes of copper(II): X-ray structures, reactivities, and the radical nonradical bis(ligand) analogues.

Tris(abpy) complexes of types mer-[Cu(II)(abpy)3][PF6]2 (mer-1(2+)[PF6(–)]2) and ctc-[Cu(II)(abpy)2(bpy)][PF6]2 (ctc-2(2+)[PF6(–)]2) were successfully isolated and characterized by spectra and single-crystal X-ray structure determinations (abpy = 2,2′-azobispyridine; bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine). Reactions of mer-1(2+) and ctc-2(2+) ions with catechol, o-aminophenol, p-phenylenediamine, and diphenylamine (Ph–NH–Ph) in 2:1 molar ratio afford CuI(abpy)2 (3(+)) and corresponding quinone derivatives. The similar reactions of Cu(II)(bpy)3 and Cu(II)(phen)3 with these substrates yielding Cu(I)(bpy)2 and Cu(I)(phen)2 imply that these complexes undergo reduction-induced ligand dissociation reactions (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline). The average −N═N– lengths in mer-1(2+)[PF6(–)]2 and ctc-2(2+)[PF6(–)]2 are 1.248(4), while that in 3(+)[PF6(–)]·2CH2Cl2 is relatively longer, 1.275(2) Å, due to dCu → πazo* back bonding. In cyclic voltammetry, mer-1(2+) exhibits one quasi-reversible wave at −0.42 V due to Cu(II)/Cu(I) and abpy/abpy(•–) couples and two reversible waves at −0.90 and −1.28 V due to abpy/abpy(•–) couple, while those of ctc-2(2+) ion appear at −0.44, −0.86, and −1.10 V versus Fc(+)/Fc couple. The anodic 3(2+)/3(+) and the cathodic 3(+)/3 redox waves at +0.33 and −0.40 V are reversible. The electron paramagnetic resonance spectra and density functional theory (DFT) calculations authenticated the existence of abpy anion radical (abpy(•–)) in 3, which is defined as a hybrid state of [Cu(I)(abpy(0.5•–))(abpy(0.5•–))] and [Cu(II)(abpy(•–))(abpy(•–))] states. 3(2+) ion is a neutral abpy complex of copper(II) of type Cu(II)(abpy)2. 3 exhibits a near-IR absorption band at 2400–3000 nm because of the intervalence ligand-to-ligand charge transfer, elucidated by time-dependent DFT calculations in CH2Cl2.