Copper(II) tetrafluoroborate complexes with the N(3),N(4)-bridging coordination of 1-(tert-butyl)-1H-tetrazole: synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties.

1-(tert-Butyl)-1H-tetrazole (L) reacts with copper(ii) tetrafluoroborate hexahydrate to give the complexes [Cu2L8(H2O)2](BF4)4 (1) or [Cu3L6(H2O)6](BF4)6 (2) depending on the reaction conditions. These complexes, as well as compound L, were characterized using single crystal X-ray analysis. Complex 1 was found to comprise a dinuclear complex cation [Cu2L8(H2O)2](4+) (the Ci symmetry point group), with six tetrazole ligands L showing monodentate N(4)-coordination, and two ligands L providing two tetrazole ring N(3),N(4) bridges between the copper(ii) cations; water molecules complete the distorted octahedral coordination of the metal ions. Complex 2 includes a linear trinuclear complex cation [Cu3L6(H2O)6](6+) (the S6 symmetry point group), in which neighbouring copper(ii) cations are linked by three ligands L via tetrazole ring N(3),N(4) bridges; central and terminal metal ions show octahedral CuN6 and CuN3O3 coordination cores, respectively. The temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements of complex 2 revealed that the copper(ii) ions were weakly ferromagnetically coupled showing a coupling constant J of 2.2 cm(-1) {H = -2J(S1S2 + S2S3)}. The quantum-chemical investigation of the electronic structure and basicity of ligand L was carried out.