Substituent effects in single helix-double helix interconversions in copper(I) complexes

Drew, M.G.B., Chowdhury, S. and Datta, D. (2004) Substituent effects in single helix-double helix interconversions in copper(I) complexes. Indian Journal of Chemistry Section A, 43 (1). pp. 51-55. ISSN 0376-4710

Abstract/Summary

The copper(I) complex of L, the 1:2 condensate of benzil dihydrazone and 2-formylpyridine, exists as single, helical [CuL](+) and double helical [Cu2L2](2+) in dichloromethane solution but crystallizes only as the double helicate [Cu2L2](ClO4)(2). In contrast, earlier [New J Chem, 27 (2003) 193] it has been found that with L', the 1:2 condensate of benzil dihydrazone and 2-acetylpyridine, only the single helical monomeric species [CuL'](+) is isolable as solid. This contrasting behaviour of the copper(I) complexes of L and L' are scrutinised here by density functional calculations.