Synthesis, characterization and structures of copper(II) complexes containing carboxylate and sulfonate groups

Four copper(II) complexes containing Schiff base and reduced Schiff base ligands derived from pyridine-2-aldehyde and amino acid containing carboxylate and sulfonate functional groups (N-(2-pyridylmethylene)-amino acid and N-(2-pyridylmethyl)-amino acid, (amino acids = β-alanine and aminoethanesulfonic acid) namely, [Cu(Pbals)(H2O)2]ClO4·H2O 1, [Cu(Pbal)(ClO4)(H2O)] 2, [Cu2(Paes)2(ClO4)2]·2H2O 3, and [Cu(Pae)(H2O)]·ClO4·H2O 4 have been synthesized and characterized. The structural features of carboxylate and sulfonate donor groups have been elucidated. These copper(II) complexes demonstrate different coordination behaviour of the carboxylate and sulfonate groups. Carboxylate groups in complexes 1 and 2 bridge the metal centers and facilitate the formation of 1D helical coordination polymeric structures. In compound 3, the sulfonate groups bridge the metal centers to form a discrete dinuclear complex. In 4, the sulfonate groups link the neighbouring metal centers to form a 1D coordination polymeric structure.