Synthesis and characterization of copper(II) complexes incorporating pyrazolyl-derived N,S-donor bidentate ligands

The novel bidentate N,S-donor anionic ligands [PhNCSIndz]−, [PhNCSImz]−, [PhNCSPzMe3]−, and [EtNCSPz]−, where Indz = indazole, Imz = imidazole, PzMe3 = 3,4,5-trimethylpyrazole, and Pz = pyrazole, were synthesized and used to prepare Cu(II) complexes of general formula [Cu(N^S)2]. The ligands were synthesized via direct addition of phenylisothiocyanate or ethylisothiocyanate into THF suspensions of the corresponding sodium-pyrazolate salts. All of the synthesized compounds, including the ligands and the complexes, were characterized by physico-chemical and spectroscopic methods, and crystal structures of [Cu(EtNCSPz)2] and [Cu(PhNCSPzMe2)2] were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis, showing a trans-square planar geometry for [Cu(EtNCSPz)2] and a distorted tetrahedral geometry for [Cu(PhNCSPzMe2)2].