1‑Phenyl-3-(pyrid-2-yl)benzo[<i>e</i>][1,2,4]triazinyl: The First “Blatter Radical” for Coordination Chemistry

A neutral air- and moisture-stable N,N′-chelating radical ligand, 1-phenyl-3-(pyrid-2-yl)­benzo­[<i>e</i>]­[1,2,4]­triazinyl (<b>1</b>) was synthesized and characterized by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, and magnetic measurements. Subsequent reaction of <b>1</b> with Cu­(hfac)₂·2H₂O (hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetonate) under ambient conditions afforded the coordination complex Cu­(<b>1</b>)­(hfac)₂ in which the radical binds to the metal in a bidentate fashion. Magnetic susceptibility data collected from 1.8 to 300 K indicate a strong ferromagnetic metal-radical interaction in the complex and weak antiferromagnetic radical···radical interactions between the Cu­(<b>1</b>)­(hfac)₂ units. Detailed computational investigations support this assignment. Radical <b>1</b> is a new addition to the growing library of 1,2,4-triazinyl radicals and the first member of this family of paramagnetic species synthesized specifically for coordination purposes.