2,2‘;9‘,2‘ ‘-Ter[1,10]phenanthroline

The title molecule, 2,2‘;9‘,2‘ ‘-ter[1,10]phenanthroline can be
prepared from 2,9-dichloro-1,10-phenanthroline in three steps
through the corresponding diacetyl intermediate. The ligand acts
as a hexadentate with K+, while two molecules form a trinuclear,
helical complex with Cu(I), which evidences π-stacking interactions
and Cu−Cu distances of 3.01−3.04 Å. Electrochemical analysis
shows a strong interaction between the Cu(I) centers.