Synthesis, crystal structure and characterization of [bis{N,N′-bis(2-aminoethyl)propane-1,3-diamine}(μ-imidazolato-N,N′)dizinc(II)] triperchlorate

The title compound [Zn-2(2,3,2-tet)(2)(Im)] (ClO4)(3) (C17H43Cl3N10O12Zn2, 2,3,2-tet = N,N'-bis(2-aminoethyl)propane-1,3-diamine, Im = imidazolate anion) consists of an imidazolate-N,N'-bridged binuclear cation and three perchlorate anions. The complex crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2 with a 12.038(8), b 12.245(8), c 11.902(3) Angstrom, beta 108.00(5)degrees, V 1668.6(15) Angstrom(3). The coordination geometry at each zinc(II) centre is approximately square-pyramidal. The Zn ... Zn separation is 6.114(9) Angstrom. Cyclic voltammetry shows two irreversible cathodic waves at -1.00 and -1.08 V/s.c.e., which clearly indicates that coordination of the strong-field ligands provides significant stability to the zinc(II) centre in the title complex.