Past exam of the chemistry course of the year 4 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge / 2022 / Paper 1 / 2 / a / i

The four shortest contacts are the three Cu–N bonds and Cu–OR bond. They define an approximately square equatorial set. The two remaining Cu–O contacts are longer and define a strongly elongated axial direction, as expected for the Jahn-Teller effect of $d^9$ Cu(II).

Choose $z$ along the long contacts and $x,y$ towards the short equatorial donors. The singly occupied, predominantly metal magnetic orbital is then $d_{x^2-y^2}$, with substantial Ligand in coordination chemistry admixture. All three pyrazine nitrogen donors lie in this equatorial set, so both ladder directions have strong metal–Ligand in coordination chemistry orbital overlap. Neighboring copper centers communicate through comparable pyrazine superexchange pathways. Virtual electron transfer between half-filled orbitals stabilizes the antiparallel arrangement, giving antiferromagnetic interactions in both directions with comparable magnitudes. The axial oxygen donors are much less effective exchange routes.