A chiral tetranuclear copper(II) complex based on a new Schiff-base ligand: Synthesis, structure, magnetic property and CD spectra

New chiral Schiff-base ligand l-H(2)vap, derived from the condensation of o-vanillin and l-2-amino-3-phenyl-1-propanol, reacts with Cu(Ac)(2) H2O and Gd(NO3)(3)center dot 6H(2)O in the presence of triethylamine to produce a chiral tetranuclear complex l-[Cu-4(HvaP)(2)(vap)(2)(MeOH)(2)](NO3)(2) MeOH (1). The single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses reveal that complex 1 crystallizes in the chiral monoclinic space group P2(1) with Z=2. Four copper(II) atoms are held together by two alkoxide mu(3)-O2- atoms and two phenoxide mu(2)-O2- atoms from four individual ligands to form a boat-shaped {Cu4O4} unit. The solid-state CD spectra confirm the chiral nature of complex 1. Magnetic studies indicate that there are strong antiferromagnetic interactions between the adjacent copper(II) ions in complex 1. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.