Ionic metallo‐Schiff base polymers of VO2+, Zn2+ and Cu2+: Synthesis,characterization and solid‐state conductivity

The viologen‐type dialdehyde of N,N′‐bis(methylsalicylaldehyde)‐4,4′‐bipyridinium] dichloride (DA) was synthesized by reacting 5‐chloromethylsalicylaldehyde and 4,4′‐bipyridine. Then a new polymeric Schiff base ligand (PSBL) was synthesized by the condensation reaction of ethylenediamine and DA in methanol under reflux conditions. Afterwards, new ionic metallo‐Schiff base polymers (IMSPs) were synthesized by reacting PSBL with VO(acac)₂, ZnCl₂ and CuCl₂ via coordination chelation. DA, PSBL and IMSPs were characterized using various analytical methods and spectral techniques. The solid‐state electrical conductivities of PSBL and IMSPs were studied. The electrical conductivity of these polymers at 300 K ranged from 1.30 × 10^?5 to 4.52 × 10^?10 Ω^?1 m^?1, which means they are potential organic and metallo‐organic semiconductors.