Synthesis, structure, magnetic and electrocatalytic properties of a dinuclear triazendio-copper(II) complex

A new dinuclear copper(II) complex, [Cu2L4] is obtained from the reaction of CuCl2 & sdot;2H2O with a triazenido compound, 1-[(2-methoxy) phenyl]-3-[2-pyridine] triazene (HL), which is prepared by the reaction of o-anisidine anthranilate, sodium nitrite and 2-aminopyridine. Magnetic investigation shows that there is an antiferromagnetic exchange interaction between copper(II) ions. Electrochemical studies exhibit that [Cu2L4] can serve as catalyst for hydrogen generation both from acetic acid with a turnover frequency (TOF) of 48.95 moles of hydrogen per mole of catalyst per hour (mol H2/mol catalyst/h) at an overpotential (OP) of 941.6 mV, and a phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) with a TOF of 814.79 mol H2/mol catalyst/h at an OP of 836.7 mV.