Synthesis of unsymmetrical compartmental oxime nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes: spectral, electrochemical and magnetic studies

A new series of binuclear unsymmetrical compartmental oxime complexes (1–5) [M₂L] [M=Cu(II), Ni(II)] have been synthesized using mononuclear complex [ML] (L=1,4-bis[2-hydroxy-3-(formyl)-5-methylbenzyl]piperazine), hydroxylamine hydrochloride and triethylamine. In this system there are two different compartments, one has piperazinyl nitrogens and phenolic oxygens and the other compartment has two oxime nitrogens and phenolic oxygens as coordinating sites. The complexes were characterized by elemental and spectral analysis. Electrochemical studies of the complexes show two step single electron quasi-reversible redox processes at cathodic potential region. For copper complexes E¹ _pc=−0.18 to −0.62 and E² _pc=−1.18 to −1.25 V, for nickel complexes E¹ _pc=−0.40 to −0.63 and E² _pc=−1.08 to −1.10 V and reduction potentials are sensitive towards the chemical environment around the copper and nickel atoms. The nickel(II) complexes undergo two electrons oxidation. The first one electron oxidation is observed around +0.75 V and the second around +1.13 V. ESR Spectra of the binuclear copper(II) complexes [Cu₂L](ClO₄), [Cu₂L(Cl)], [Cu₂L(NO₃)] shows a broad signal at g=2.1 indicating the presence of coupling between the two copper centers. Copper(II) complexes show a magnetic moment value of μ_eff around 1.59 B.M at 298 K and variable temperature magnetic measurements show a −2J value of 172 cm⁻¹ indicating presence of antiferromagnetic exchange interaction between copper(II) centres.