Synthesis and Physico-chemical Studies of Some Binuclear Mixed Carboxylates of Copper(II)

Chemical Laboratories, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur-302 004

Anhydrous copper(II) acetate undergoes substitution reactions with higher carb­oxylic acids refluxing in toluene, yielding soluble copper(II) carboxylates with general formula Cu(OOCCH₃)_2-n(OOCR)n (where R = C₁₃H_27, C_15,H₂₁ and C₁₇ H₂₅ and C₂₁  H₄₃  ( n = 1 or 2). These complexes on recrystallisatlon from benzene - alcohol mixtures form alcoholate complexes with the formulae, Cu(OOCCH₂)(OOCR).R'OH and Cu(OOCR)₂.ROH (where R'=Me, Et and Pr¹). Elemental analyses, infrared and electronic spectra, magnetic measurements and ebullioscopic molecular weight determination of all the above complexes indicate their dimeric nature with carboxylate groups acting as bridging ligands.