Synthesis and structural characterization of a novel polymeric gadolinium(III)–copper(II) complex of iminodiacetic acid

A novel polymeric Gd2Cu3 complex of iminodiacetic acid (H2L1=NH{CH2COOH}2), namely, Gd2Cu3(L1)6, 1, has been synthesized and structurally characterized. In the title complex, the Gd3+ ion is nine-coordinated by six O atoms from three bidentate chelating carboxylate groups and three O atoms from three anti-anti bridging carboxylic groups of six L1 ligands; the Cu2+ ion is six-coordinated by four O and two N atoms from two chelating L1 ligands. Each pair of Gd(III) atoms is bridged by three L1 ligands, each of which also chelates with one copper(II) ion, thus forming a Gd2Cu3 cluster unit. Such cluster units are cross-linked by flexible L1 ligands into a three-dimensional coordination framework. The title complex crystallizes in the trigonal space group P-3c1 (No. 165) with a = b = 13.433(4), c = 14.770(6) Å; V = 2308(1) Å3; Dcalca = 1.859 g cm−3; Z = 2.