Templation of a square grid copper(II) 4,4 '-bipyridine network by a 3D PtS-related Cu(I)-Cu(II) 4,4 '-bipyridine crystal

Two cationic networks, [CuICuII(4,4′bipy)4(H2O)2]3+ and [CuII(4,4′bipy)2-(H2O)2]2+ have been formed from a solution in which Cu(i) undergoes aerial oxidation. Whilst the topologies of the two networks are different the arrangement of Cu centres is almost identical, a structural feature which presumably allows for [CuICuII(4,4′bipy)4(H2O)2]3+ to serve as a crystalline template for [CuII(bipy)2(H2O)2]2+.