Alternating ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions in the azido-bridged copper(II) chain compound [Cu(phen)(N3)2]n

Single crystals of a copper(II) chain compound^**, Cu(phen)(N₃)₂] _n (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), were obtained and its crystal structure was determined by X-ray diffraction methods. The complex crystallizes in the space group P1¯ and is made up of neutral chains of copper(II) ions bridged by two azide groups exhibiting an asymmetrical tri-dentate (1,1,3) coordination mode. The copper atoms have a distorted CuN₆ octahedral environment: the basal plane is built of two nitrogen atoms from a chelating phen molecule and two azide nitrogens from one bridging and one terminal azide, whereas two nitrogens from two bridging azides fill the axial positions. The intrachain copper(II)–copper(II) separation is 3.396(1) and 5.700(1) Å. The magnetic behavior was investigated in the 5–300 K range. Weak intrachain alternating antiferromagnetic (J = –6.56 cm^–1) and ferromagnetic (J = 12.76 cm^–1) interactions were observed.