Di-μ-phosphinato-bis[(1,10-phenanthroline)copper(II)] Nitrate, [Cu₂(H₂PO₂)₂(phen)₂](NO₃)₂

The structure of blue [Cu₂(H₂PO₂)₂(C₁₂H₈N₂)₂](NO₃)₂, consists of dimeric [Cu(H₂PO₂)(phen)] subunits (phen is 1,10-phenanthroline) joined by two phosphinato bridging ligands, with each metal center organized in a distorted planar arrangement. These joined subunits exist as a discrete cation, with the equivalent of two nitrates as counter ions. The subunits have a four-coordinate distorted square-planar arrangement of N and O atoms from the 1,10-phenanthroline and phosphinato ligands, with the fifth and sixth positions of copper occupied by neighboring O atoms of the nitrate counter ions. The coordination stereochemistry around each copper is best described as tetragonal.

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