Multinuclear copper complexes of pyridylmethylamide ligands

Copper complexes of a family of pyridylmethylamide ligands HL(Ph), HL(Me3) and HL(Ph3) were synthesized and characterized [HL(Ph) = 2-phenyl-N-(2-pyridylmethyl)acetamide; HL(Me3) = 2,2-dimethyl-N-(2-pyridylmethyl)propionamide; HL(Ph3) = 2,2,2-triphenyl-N-(2-pyridylmethyl)acetamide]. The reaction of copper(II) salts with the HL family and triethylamine in methanol yields copper(II) complexes [Cu4(L(Ph))4(OH)2](ClO4)2 (1), [Cu2(HL(Me3))2(OMe)2(MeOH)2](OTf)2 (2) and [Cu2(HL(Ph3))2(OMe)2(MeOH)2](OTf)2 (3). The complexes have different nuclearity owing to varying steric properties of the ligands used. Complex 1 self-assembles in the presence of excess base to form a tetranuclear complex. Complexes 2 and 3 are binuclear and are bridged by a pair of methoxide ligands. Steric encumbrance of the ligands in 2 and 3 prevent cluster formation.