title: Homo- and hetero-dinuclear anion complexes.
abstract: The tripodal system 4, in which urea fragments are appended to the three terminal amine nitrogen atoms of a tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (tren) subunit, includes a Cu(II) ion and two anions X-, according to a cascade mechanism through three well defined stepwise equilibria in a DMSO solution. The first anion X- (halide, N3-, NCS-, NO2-, H2PO4-) seeks the Cu(II) centre coordinated by the tren moiety; the second anion X- interacts with the trisurea cavity, but this occurs only if the stronger H-bond acceptors, such as N3- and H2PO4-, are used. Binding of the second X- ion is favoured by the preorganising effect exerted by the metal and disfavoured by the steric and electrostatic repulsions between the anions. Under the appropriate conditions, heterodinuclear complexes of formula [Cu(II)(4)(Cl)(H2PO4)] can be obtained in solution, in which Cl- is bound to the metal centre and H2PO4- interacts with the trisurea compartment.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica Generale, Università di Pavia via Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Allevi
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonizzoni
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fabbrizzi