A novel polymeric copper strain formed by helically terpyridyl-surrounded Cu22+ units

Terpyridine (terpy) (2) reacts with a 1:1 mixture of [{[Ti](μ−σ, π-CCSiMe3)2}Cu(NCMe)]PF6 (1) and [{[Ti](μ−σ,π-CCSiMe3)2}CuO2NO (4) ([Ti](η5-C5H4SiMe3)2Ti) to produce the polymeric copper strain {[Cu2(terpy)2]PF6, NO3}n (6) in which dimeric [Cu2(terpy)2]2+ units are linked by copper–copper interactions; a possible reaction mechanism is presented.