Paramagnetic resonance in imidazolate-bridged homobinuclear (copper-copper) and heterobinuclear (copper-zinc) complexes.

Bridged homobinuclear (copper-copper) and heterobinuclear (copper-zinc) complexes of diethylenetriamine have been prepared with 2-methyl-imidazole as bridging ligand. EPR spectra of the polycrystalline complexes have been studied at room temperature and also at liquid nitrogen temperature. Low temperature EPR and electronic spectroscopic studies of 50% aqueous DMSO of [(dien)Cu-(Melm)-Zn(dien)]3+ solutions show the imidazolate bridged complex to exist mainly over the pH range approximately 7.0 < pH < 10.0. At low pH the 2-MelmH+ ion and mononuclear copper and zinc complexes are formed. Above pH > 10.0 hydroxide ion splits the imidazolate bridge.