Solvent effects on the crystallization and structure of ternary copper(ii) coordination compounds with l-threonine and 1,10-phenanthroline()

Solution-based and solid-state reactions of copper(ii) compounds, 1,10-phenanthroline and l-threonine were investigated. Eight new ternary coordination compounds were obtained: [Cu(l-Thr)(H(2)O)(phen)](2)SO(4)∙10H(2)O (1a∙10H(2)O), [Cu(l-Thr)(H(2)O) (phen)](2)SO(4)∙4.3H(2)O (1a∙4.3H(2)O), {[Cu(μ-l-Thr)(phen)](2)SO(4)∙3.5H(2)O}(n) (1b∙3.5H(2)O), [Cu(l-Thr)(H(2)O)(phen)][Cu(l-Thr)(CH(3)OH)(phen)]SO(4)∙2H(2)O∙CH(3)OH (1c∙2H(2)O∙CH(3)OH), [Cu(l-Thr)(H(2)O)(phen)][Cu(l-Thr)(CH(3)OH)(phen)]SO(4)∙4H(2)O (1c∙4H(2)O), [Cu(l-Thr)(CH(3)OH)(phen)](2)SO(4)∙H(2)O (1d∙H(2)O), [Cu(l-Thr)(H(2)O)(phen)][Cu(l-Thr)(CH(3)OH)(phen)][Cu(SO(4))(l-Thr)(phen)]HSO(4)∙H(2)O∙3CH(3)OH (1e·H(2)O·3CH(3)OH), [Cu(l-Thr)(H(2)O)(phen)][Cu(l-Thr)(phen)(py)]SO(4) (1f) (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, l-Thr = l-threoninate, py = pyridine). X-ray crystal structure analysis of the prepared ternary coordination compounds revealed extensive hydrogen bonding and π-interactions that link complex species, anions and solvent molecules into 3D architectures. The water/methanol solvent molecules are found in pockets and/or channels in seven solvates. ESR spectra of different types of compounds were also investigated. In all measured compounds the unpaired electron of the copper(II) ion is located in the d(x2-y2) orbital which is in agreement with elongated square-pyramidal geometry. Compound 1a∙10H(2)O showed substantial cytotoxic activity toward human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) and acute monocytic leukaemia (THP-1) cell lines.