Transition metal halide salts of 2-amino-3-methylpyridine: synthesis, crystal structures and magnetic properties of (3-MAP)2CuX4 [3-MAP=2-amino-3-methylpyridinium; X=Cl, Br]

The reaction of CuX2·nH2O with HX [X=Cl, Br] and 2-amino-3-methylpyridine in aqueous solution gave compounds of the formula (3-MAP)2(CuX4) [3-MAP=2-amino-3-methylpyridinium]. The compounds have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The complexes crystallize as salts with the 3-MAP cations separating layers of tetrahalometallate anions. Both compounds have two independent molecules in their asymmetric units. Weak antiferromagnetic interactions are observed, which suggest a primarily low-dimensional magnetic exchange network.