Structure and spectra of dichloro(hydroxy-methoxy-di(2-pyridyl)methane)copper(II)

The non-electrolyte dichloro(hydroxy-methoxy-di(2-pyridyl)methane)coper(II), resulting from the reaction of di(2-pyridyl)ketone and copper(II) chloride in methanol solution, was isolated and characterized and its structure was determined by X-ray diffraction. The pyridyl nitrogens and the chloride anions virtually form a basal plane in which lies the copper atom, while the oxygen of the methoxy group is in an apical position at a distance of 2.497(3)Angstrom. The nitrogenous base adopts the boat conformation with the pyridyl rings forming a dihedral angle of 108.72(14)degrees. The nearest interatomic copper distance of 3.940(3)Angstrom precludes copper-copper interactions, while the proximity of copper to the out-of-plane chlorine atoms [3.109(3)Angstrom] suggests weakly bound chloro-bridged dimers. Spectral changes indicate that protic molecules displace the methoxy group and water affords the corresponding 1,1-diol.