Structure of the copper tripodal Schiff base complex {tris[4-(2-thienyl)-3-aza-κN-3-butenyl]amine-κN}copper(I) tetrafluoroborate

The copper Schiff base complex {tris[4-(2-thienyl)-3- aza-~N-3-butenyl]amine-~N} copper(I) tetrafluoroborate, [Cu{N(CTHgNS)3 }]+.BF4- (I), crystallizes with the cation residing in a general position and two disordered tetrafluoroborate anions residing on twofold axes. The cation has approximate threefold symmetry and the copper(I) geometry is distorted trigonal pyramidal with coordination from the apical tertiary amine N atom and the three azomethine N atoms but not from the S atoms of the three thiophene moieties. The principal bond lengths are Cu-- Napical 2.300 (5) ,~ and mean Cu--Nequatorial 1.994 (4) A,, with a mean Cu-..S contact of 3.270 (2) A.