cis-Diisothiocyanatobis(1,10-phenanthroline)copper(II), [Cu(NCS)₂(C₁₂H₈N₂)₂]

The crystal and molecular structure of green cis-[Cu(NCS)₂(phen)₂] (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) containing a distorted octahedral [Cu^IIN₆] core is reported. The structure of [Cu(NCS)₂(phen)₂] consists of discrete molecules in which the six-coordinated Cu atom sits on a twofold rotation axes with the thiocyanates coordinating through the N atom. The Cu-N_NCS distances are 2.020 (7) Å, while the Cu-N_phen distances are 2.132 (5) trans to NCS and 2.217 (5) Å trans to N_phen. The geometry is distorted from an octahedral stereochemistry because of the 76.9 (2)° bite angle of the N-Cu-N atoms of the 1,10-phenanthrolines and because of a slight elongation of the trans positions that are occupied by an N atom from each phenanthroline ligand. The thiocyanate ions are linear [N-C-S = 178.9 (6)°] and are at an angle of 161.0 (6)° to the Cu atom.

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