The coordination chemistry of tartronic acid with copper: magnetic studies of a quasi-equilateral tricopper triangle

The coordination chemistry of tartronic acid, 1, with copper(II) has been investigated. Structures of two complexes are reported containing respectively the complex [Cu(1–2H)2Cl]3− where 1 acts as a bidentate ligand through carboxylates, and [Cu3(1–3H)3]3− where the alcohol function is deprotonated to bridge two coppers in a triangular trinuclear complex. The latter species undergoes facile oxidation leading to carbon–carbon bond formation. The magnetic and EPR properties of the trinuclear complex have been studied in detail.