Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Dialkoxo-Bridged Dinuclear Cu(II) Complex with 5-Methoxy-6′-hydroxy-2,2′-[ethylenedioxybis(nitrilomethylidyne)]diphenol

An unexpected dinuclear copper(II) complex, [Cu-2(L-2)(2)] (H2L2 = 4-methoxysalicylaldehyde-O-(2-hydroxyethyl) oxime), has been synthesized through the complexation of Cu(OAc)(2)center dot H2O with an asymmetrical salamo-type compound 5-methoxy-6'-hydroxy-2,2'-[ethylenedioxybis(nitrilomethylidyne)] diphenol (H3L1). The catalysis of Cu(II) ions results in the unexpected cleavage of one of the N-O bonds in the ligand H3L1, giving a novel dialkoxo-bridged dinuclear Cu(II) complex possessing a Cu-O-Cu-O four membered ring core instead of the usually desired salamo-type ligand Cu-N2O2 mononuclear complex.