Absence of direct metal–nucleotide interaction in the crystal structure of the ternary system, [Cu(bim)(H2O)5]2+[5′-IMP]2–·3H2O (bim = benzimidazole; 5′-IMP = inosine 5′-monophosphate)

The unusual absence of direct metal-nucleotide binding in a metal-6-oxopurine nucleotide complex is demonstrated for the first time in the structure of $[Cu(bim)(H_2O)5]^{2+}[5'-IMP-.3]^{2-}3H_2O$ (bim = benzimidazole; 5'-IMP = inosine 5'-monophosphate); the nucleotide base stacks with the bim ligand and the phosphate oxygens are involved in hydrogen bonds with the co-ordinated water molecules.