Effect of the Pyridine Substituent on the Role of the Phenol Functional Group in [Cu(pOHBz)2(dPy)2] Complexes (pOHBz: p‐Hydroxybenzoate, dPy= 4‐Phenylpyridine, 4‐Benzylpyridine, 3‐Phenylpyridine)

• Published in: ChemistrySelect (Weinheim) 2017-12, Vol.2 (35), p.11574-11580
• Main Authors: Sanchez‐Sala, Marta, Pons, Josefina, Álvarez‐Larena, Ángel, Domingo, Concepción, Ayllón, José A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Coordination modes; Hydrogen bonds; N ligands; O ligands; Substituent effects
• ISSN: 2365-6549; 2365-6549
• DOI: 10.1002/slct.201702833

The crystal structure of three new complexes of stoichiometry [Cu(pOHBz)2(dPy)2] (pOHBz: p‐hydroxybenzoate, dPy= 4‐phenylpyridine, 4‐benzylpyridine, 3‐phenylpyridine) and its comparison with the previously reported [Cu(pOHBz)2(Py)2] (1) indicate that the nature and position of the pyridine substituent determines different roles for the phenol group from the pOHBz ligand and, consequently, the coordination number and geometry of Cu(II) centers. Results herein reported show the versatility of the pOHBz ligand towards the coordination of Cu(II). Different carboxylate bonding modes are also observed: monodentate, bidentate chelating or bidentate bridge. Besides, this governs the different roles of the phenol group of the pOHBz ligand: founding of supramolecular hydrogen‐bond based network or direct bonding to the copper cation, yielding 2D coordination polymers. The versatility of p‐hydroxybenzoate ligand coordination to Cu(II) is shown in a family of compounds including different pyridine derivatives that determine both the carboxylate bonding mode and the phenol role.