Synthesis, structure, magnetic and catalytic behavior of a dinuclear copper(II) complex with triazendio ligands

A dinuclear copper(II) complex [Cu 2 L 4 ] has been prepared by the reaction of CuCl 2 ·2H 2 O and 1-[(2-iodo)benzene]-3-[benzothiazole] triazene (HL). The complex has been characterized by X-ray crystallography and by physico-chemical and spectroscopic methods. In the solid state, there is a significant antiferromagnetic coupling between the copper(II) centers with a coupling constant (J) of − 558 cm −1 . In homogeneous solution, the complex shows electrocatalytic activities for hydrogen generation from both acetic acid and neutral buffer with a turnover frequency of 50 mol of H 2 per mole of catalyst per hour (mol H 2 /mol catalyst/h) at an overpotential (OP) of 941.6 mV, and 502 mol H 2 /mol catalyst/h at an OP of 836.7 mV.