Supramolecular bidentate amine derivatives of copper(II) organophosphonates

Four novel complexes of copper(II) with organophosphonic acids and bidentate amines: [CuDn((OH)O2PR)][(OH)O2PR)].(H2O)(x), where D=1,10-phenanthroline (C12H8N2 or phen) or 2,2'-bipyridyl (C10H8N2 or 2,2'-bipy), n=1 or 2, R=C6H5 or CH2C6H5, and x=0, 1, 4 or 7, have been synthesised by hydrothermal reactions at 160degreesC. A combination of structural studies and various analytical techniques indicate that for species where D=phen and R=C6H5 (1), and where D=phen and R=CH2C6H5 (2), the compounds are crystalline ionic materials possessing triclinic and monoclinic structures, respectively. The crystal structures of (1) and (2) are supramolecular and contain ribbons of [Cu(phen)(2)((OH)O2PR)](+) cations, interleaved between H-bonded sheets of organophosphonate anions and water molecules. The data compiled for the 2,2'-bipy derivatives (3-4) are somewhat different from the phen species, indicating there is only one amine ligand for each copper atom. Powder XRD, FTIR, TGA, UV-Vis, and XPS data consistent with the formulations are presented.