Complexes of 1,5‐Di(p‐tolyl)‐1,4‐pentaazadien‐3‐ide, Crystal Structures of [Cu(tolylNNNNNtolyl)]3 and [Ni(tolylNNNNNtolyl)2]2

Three linearly arranged Cu⊕ ions, coordinated by three parallel N5 zig‐zag chains in such a way that each metal ion is surrounded by a trigonal planar array of N atoms, are present in the pentaazadienide complex 1. The red crystals of 1 exhibit weak paramagnetism; the CuCu distances in the chains are the shortest observed so far in copper(I) complexes. equation image