Synthesis, structures and characterization of metal complexes containing 4′-phenyl-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine ligands with extended π⋯π interactions

Four complexes [Cu (Phterpy)Cl2]·2H2O (1), [Cu (Phterpy)Cl2]·[Cu (Phterpy)Cl2]·CH3OH (2), [(Phterpy) ClMn(μ-Cl)2 MnCl (Phterpy)]·2[Mn(Phterpy)Cl2].2CH3OH (3), [Fe (Phterpy)2] (FeCl4)·CH3OH (4) (Phterpy = 4′-phenyl-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine), were synthesized and characterized by IR, 1H NMR and X-ray diffraction analysis. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses display that, in 1, 2, 3 and 4, the units [Cu (Phterpy)Cl2] and [Mn(Phterpy)Cl2] are five-coordinate, and the units [(Phterpy) ClMn(μ-Cl)2 MnCl (Phterpy)] and [Fe (Phterpy)2] are six-coordinate, and all of these complexes in the packing structure contain π⋯π stacking interaction between the Phterpy ligands, with four variations in stacking patterns. Moreover, some of the weak interactions in the crystal are also observed.