Six N,N,O-donor Schiff-base ligands, HL1-HL6, [HL1/HL2/HL3= {2-(2-piperazin-1-yl)ethylimino)methyl)-4-(Cl/H/Me)-phenol}; HL4/HL5/HL6={2-(2-morpholine/piperidine/ pyrrolidine 1-yl)ethylimino)methyl)-4-chlorophenol}, have been designed by combining 5-R-2-hydroxy-benzaldehyde, (R=Cl/H/Me) and N-(2-aminoethyl)-Y, (Y=piperazin/morpholine/ piperidine/pyrrolidine) with the view to explore the role of R and X (part of Y excluding coordinating N) on the coordination chemistry of Cu (II) in presence of bromide as counter anion. HL1-HL6 formed in situ on reaction with Cu(II)Br2 produce complexes 1–6, respectively. Complex 1, [Cu(II)2Cu(I)2(L1)(MeOH)2Br7.30], is a mixed valence Cu(I)-Cu(II) species having phenyl ring brominated at ortho position with 0.65 occupancy. Complexes 2–4 are mononuclear species with general formula [Cu{L2/L3/L4)}Br2]. Complexes [Cu3(L5)Br4] (5) and [Cu3(L6)Br4] (6) are trinuclear species having similar structure but exhibit different magnetic property, 5 is ferro- (J= +16.64 cm1 ) and 6 is antiferromegnetic (J= –11.76 cm1). The influence of R and X on bromination, magnetic property and nuclearity issues have been rationalized by DFT calculations.
