The crystal structures of some -o-hydroxy Schiff base copper(II) complexes derived from (R) and (S) secbutylamines

Copper(II) complexes of three chiral enantiomeric pairs of o-hydroxy Schiff bases derived from (R)-(−)-secbutylamine and (S)-(+)-secbutylamine, were prepared and characterized by i.r., electronic, cd, epr and mass spectra. Some X-ray crystal structures were obtained. The X-ray study of five complexes shows that the geometry around the metal atom is pseudotetrahedral. Additionally, epr studies of all these complexes in dmf solution at 77 K suggest that their geometry in liquid phase is slightly different to that observed in solid state by X-ray crystallography. Even though, cd spectra only show charge transfer absorptions, the data confirm the enantiomeric pair character of the obtained complexes.