Crystal structures of four complexes produced by reaction of copper(I) cyanide with imidazoles

Abstract

Four complexes of CuCN with imidazoles have been prepared by adding the ligand to a solution of CuCN in aqueous sodium thiosulfate. The imidazole ligands used were 2-methylimidazole (mim), 1,2-dimethylimidazole (dmim), 5-chloro-1-methylimidazole (clmim), and 2-phenylimidazole (phim). Complex 1, (CuCN)(mim) is monoclinic, C2/c, a = 9.565(3), b = 7.764(5), c = 8.983(8) Å, β = 96.76(3)°, Z, = 4, Complex 2, (CuCN)(dmim) is monoclinic, P2₁/c, a = 8.120(2), b = 11.796(4), c = 16.375(9) Å, β, = 100.87(4)°, Z = 8. Complex 3, (CuCN) (clmim) is monoclinic, C2/c, a = 24.907(4), b = 6.894(5), c = 18.259(4) Å, β = 102.79(2)°, Z = 16. Complex 4, (CuCN)(phim) is orthorhombic, Pca2₁, a = 9.204(4), b = 8.125(2), c = 26.304(6) Å, Z, = 8. Complexes 1, 2, and 4 have one-dimensional chains –Cu–CN–Cu– with an imidazole bonded to each Cu. Complex 3 has a two-dimensional sheet of CuCN, again with an imidazole bonded to each Cu. In 1 the imidazole group is disordered by a two-fold rotation approximately around the N···N direction in the imidazole group. In 3 one of the imidazole groups has a disorder involving exchange of the Cl and CH₃.