Synthesis and Thermal Properties of a Novel Schiff Base Oligomer with a Double Azomethine Group and its Co(II) and Mn(II) Complexes

Schiff base oligomer of N,N′‐bis (2,4‐dihydroxybenzylidene) 1,2‐phenylenediamine (DHBPDA), with a double azomethine group, was synthesized from the oxidative polycondensation (OP) reaction with NaOCl as an oxidant in an aqueous alkaline medium at 90°C. About 75% DHBPDA was converted to O‐DHBPDA. The structures of the products were studied by UV‐Vis, FT‐IR, ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR and elemental analysis. According to Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) analysis of O‐DHBPDA, the number average molecular weight (M_n), weight average molecular weight (M_w) and PDI values were found to be 4328 g mol^?1, 6228 g mol^?1 and 1.43, respectively. TG/DTA analyses were shown to be stable of O‐DHBPDA against thermo‐oxidative decomposition. During the polycondensation reaction, a part of the azomethine (‐CH?N‐) groups oxidized to aldehyde (CHO) group (10–12%). Oligomer‐metal complexes of oligo‐N,N′‐bis (2,4‐dihydroxybenzylidene) 1,2‐phenylenediamine (O‐DHBPDA) with Co(II) and Mn(II) were synthesized and characterized by FT‐IR, UV‐Vis, TG‐DTA and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). The residue of DHBPDA, O‐DHBPDA, O‐DHBPDA‐Co and O‐DHBPDA‐Mn were found to be 0%, 3.65%, 11.67%, and 9.20%, respectively at 1000°C.