Asymmetric Schiff Base (N 2 O 3 ) Complexes as Ligands Towards Mn(II), Fe(III) and Co(II), Synthesis and Characterization

Heterobi- and tri-nuclear complexes LMM'Cl] and (LM) 2 M'](M=Ni or Cu and M'=Mn, Fe or Co) have been synthesised. The heteronuclear complexes were prepared by stepwise reactions using two mononuclear Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes of the general formula HLM]·1/2H 2 O, as ligands towards the metal ions, Mn(II), Fe(III) and Co(II). The asymmetrical pentadentate (N 2 O 3 ) Schiff-base ligands used were prepared by condensing acetoacetylphenol and ethylenediamine, molar ratio 1 1, to yield a half-unit compound which was further condensed with either salicylaldehyde or naphthaldehyde to yield the ligands H 3 L 1 and H 3 L 2 which possess two dissimilar coordination sites, an inner four-coordinate N 2 O 2 donor set and an outer three-coordinated O 2 O set. 1 H NMR and IR spectra indicate that the Ni(II) and Cu(II) ions are bonded to the inner N 2 O 2 sites of the ligands leaving their outer O 2 O sites vacant for further coordination. Different types of products were obtained according to the type of metal ion. These products differ in stoichiometry according to the type of ligand in the parent compound. Electronic spectra and magnetic moments indicate that the structures of the parent Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes are square-planar while the geometry around Fe(III), Mn(II) and Co(II) in their products are octahedral as elucidated from IR, UV-visible, ESR, 1 H NMR, mass spectrometry and magnetic moments.