A comparative investigation of supramolecular structures involving copper(II) complexes of imidazolinylalkanimidamides

The syntheses of three new copper(II) complexes based on the bidentate ligand N-(4-oxo-5,5-diphenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)ethanimidamide are reported. In the solid state these products assemble into elaborate supramolecular structures featuring hydrogen bonds within, and between, complexes as well as weak aryl–aryl and alkyl–aryl interactions between complexes; different coordination geometries and tautomeric forms are also observed. Dimethyl sulfoxide molecules show a variety of interactions within the structures, including coordination to the copper, hydrogen bonding, as well as weak alkyl–aryl interactions with the ligands.