Synthesis, crystal structure and thermal stability of new copper(II) trichloroacetate complexes

We have synthesized two novel complexes of copper(II) trichloro acetate, Cu₂(CCl₃COO)₃(OH)(H₂O)₄·H₂O and Cu(CCl₃COO)₂(MeCN), and determined their crystal structures and thermal stability. While the complex with acetonitrile has a discrete binuclear paddle-wheel structure, typical of copper carboxylates, the aqua-hydroxo complex belongs to a novel unique chain–molecular type of basic copper complexes.