Cyclam derivatives and their metal complexes have been found to exhibit an anti-HIV effect and stimulate the activity of stem cells from bone marrow. The strength of their binding to the CXCR4 receptor correlates with anti-HIV and stem-cell activities. Knowledge of the conformation and crystal packing of various macrocyclic metal complexes has become important in developing new effective anti-HIV drugs. The synthesis and preparation of single crystals of a new Cu2+-doped macrocyclic compound, (3,14-diethyl-2,6,13,17-tetraazatricyclo[16.4.0.07,12]docosane)copper(II) bis(perchlorate)-3,14-diethyl-2,13-diaza-6,17-diazoniatricyclo[16.4.0.07,12]docosane bis(perchlorate) (0.69/0.31), {[Cu(C22H44N4)](ClO4)2}0.69·(C22H46N42+·2ClO4-)0.31, is reported. Characterization by X-ray diffraction analysis shows that the asymmetric unit contains half of a centrosymmetric molecule. The macrocyclic ligand in the compound adopts the most stable trans-III conformation. The Cu-N distances of 2.015 (3) and 2.047 (3) Å are normal, but the long axial Cu-O bond of 2.795 (3) Å may be due to a combination of the Jahn-Teller effect and the strong in-plane ligand field. The crystal structure is stabilized by hydrogen bonding between secondary N-H groups, the N atoms of the macrocycle and the O atoms of the perchlorate anions. Hirshfeld surface analysis with 2D (two-dimensional) fingerprint plots indicates that the main contributions to the crystal packing are from H...H (58.0%) and H...O/O...H (41.9%) interactions. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) properties are also described.
Keywords: Cu2+-doped single crystal; EPR spectroscopy; Hirshfeld surface analysis; anti-HIV; crystal structure; macrocycle; perchlorate; trans-III conformation.