A strategy for controlling charge and conformation in 2,2′-bipyridine complexes for use in photonic applications

The complex [nBu4N][Cu(H1)2]·H2O (H21 = 3,3′-dihydroxy-6,6′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine) is readily formed from the reaction of H21 with [Cu(MeCN)4][PF6] in the presence of [nBu4N]Br; in the solid state the anion comprises a discrete dinuclear {[Cu(H1)2](H2O)2[Cu(H1)2]}2– unit in which two oxygen atoms of each [H1]– ligand and two water oxygens form a chair shaped hydrogen-bonded six-membered ring.