Imidazole-containing Bispidine Ligands: Synthesis, Structure and Cu(II) Complexation

The preparation and characterization of tris-pyridyl bispidine (3,7-diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane) derivatives with benzimidazole and imidazole donor groups at the N-3 position of the bispidine skeleton and their copper(II) complexes are reported. The impact of the hetaryl substituents on the configurational isomerism of piperidones and their corresponding bispidones has been studied by NMR spectroscopy, revealing the exclusive appearance in the enol form for the piperidones in solution and the trans-configuration regarding the two pyridyl substituents, as well as the sole formation of the unsymmetric exo-endo isomers for the corresponding bispidones. Thus, the bispidones are preorganized ligands for building pentacoordinated complexes, confirmed by the preparation and characterization of the corresponding Cu(II) complexes. Of the di-pyridyl piperidones with benzimidazole and imidazole substituents, and of the Cu(II) complex of the benzimidazole-containing bispidone, crystals have become available for the analysis by X-ray diffraction, showing that the piperidones form the enol tautomers also in the solid state.