Iron(II)-bis (salicyladimine) Schiff-base complexes catalyzed decomposition of hydrogen peroxide

The tetradentate Schiff-base ligands, N,N′-bis(salicylidene)-ethylenediamine (Salen), N,N′-bis(salicylidene) butylenediamine (Salbut), and N,N′-bis(salicylidene)-o–phenylenediamine, (sal-o-phen) are very strongly sorbed by cation exchange resin (Dowex-50W) with Fe²⁺ ions as a counter ion, forming stable complexes. The kinetics of the catalytic decomposition of H₂O₂ using these complexes was studied in ethanolic medium. The reaction was first-order with salen and sal-o-phen and second-order with salbut with respect to [H₂O₂]. The rate of the H₂O₂ decomposition increased either from salen to salbut or from salen to sal-o-phen. Also, the k (per g dry resin) values decreased with increasing both the particle size and the degree of resin cross-linkage. The active species formed at the beginning of the reaction, had an inhibiting effect on the reaction rate. The corresponding activation parameters were calculated from a least-squares fit of the temperature dependence of the rate constant. A reaction mechanism is proposed. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

trans‐Bis(diethanolamine‐N,O)bis(saccharinato‐N)cadmium(II)

The structure of the title complex consists of isolated [Cd(C₇H₄NO₃S)₂(C₄H₁₁NO₂)₂] units. The Cd²⁺ cation lies on an inversion centre and is octahedrally coordinated by two N,O‐bidentate diethanol­amine (dea) and two N‐bonded saccharinate (sac) ligands [saccharin is 1,2‐benziso­thia­zol‐3(2H)‐one 1,1‐dioxide]. The dea ligands constitute the equatorial plane of the octahedron, forming two five‐membered chelate rings around the Cd^II ion, while the sac ligands are localized at the axial positions. The Cd—N_sac, Cd—N_dea and Cd—O_dea bond distances are 2.3879 (12), 2.3544 (14) and 2.3702 (13) Å, respectively. The H atoms of the free and coordinated hydroxyl groups of the dea ligands are involved in hydrogen bonding with the carbonyl and sulfonyl O atoms of the neighbouring sac ions, while the amine H atom forms a hydrogen bond with the free hydroxyl O atom. The individual mol­ecules are held together by strong hydrogen bonds, forming an infinite three‐dimensional network.     

Acid dissociation kinetics of the copper(II) complex of a 15-membered mixed N3O2 donor macrocycle

Summary The kinetics of the acid dissociation of the copper(II) complex of the 15-membered N₃O₂ donor macrocycle [prepared by reaction of 2,6-bis(2-aminophenoxymethyl)-pyridine with glyoxal in the presence of a manganese(II) template followed by reduction of the two imine linkages with NaBH₄] was studied over an acidity range (0.01–0.5 mol dm^-3 [H⁺]) at 25 °C and I = 1.0 mol dm^-3 by stopped-flow methods. A biphasic reaction was observed at 752 nm, the first reaction being complete within 20 ms at 25 °C and too rapid to study in detail. The second reaction shows a good first order dependence on the hydrogen ion concentration over the whole acidity range and k _obs=k0+k _H[H⁺], where k ₀ = 0.52 s^-1 and k _H = 40.2 dm³ mol^-1 s^-1 at 25 °C. The k ₀ term represents a small but significant solvolytic reaction. The mechanism of the acid-catalysed dissociation is discussed.     

Catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide in the presence ofN,N ′-bis(salicylidene)-o-phenylenediamineiron(III) sorbed on to Dowex-50W resin

Summary The tetradentate Schiff-base ligandN, N -bis(salicylidene)-o-phenylenediamine (salph) is very strongly sorbed by cation exchange materials with transition metal counter ions, forming stable complexes. The kinetics of catalytic decomposition of H₂O₂ in the presence of (salph)-Fe^III sorbed on Dowex-50W resin has been studied in aqueous medium. The reaction is first order with respect to [H₂O₂]. The rate constant, k (per g of dry resin) decreased with increasing degree of resin cross-linkage due to a salting out effect. The activation parameters were calculated and a reaction mechanism is proposed.     

New chromium(III)–picolinamide complexes. Kinetics and mechanism of picolinamide liberation in HClO4 solutions

Two new chromium(III) complexes with picolinamide (pica) and oxalates, [Cr(C₂O₄)₂(N,N′-pica)]²⁻ and [Cr(C₂O₄)₂(N,O-pica)]⁻, were obtained and the kinetics of their aquation in HClO₄ solutions were studied. The aquation leads to pica liberation and proceeds in two stages: (i) the chelate-ring opening at the Cr–amide bond and (ii) the Cr–N-pyridine bond breaking, which gives free pica and cis-[Cr(C₂O₄)₂(H₂O₂)₂]⁻. In the case of N,N′-bonded pica the kinetics of both stages was determined and in the case of the N,O-bonded pica only the second stage was investigated. The following rate laws were established: (k _obs)₁ = k ₀ + k ₁ Q ₁[H⁺] and (k _obs)₂ = k ₂ Q ₂[H⁺], where k ₀ and k ₁ are the rate constants of the chelate-ring opening in the unprotonated and protonated starting complex, and k ₂ is the rate constant of the pica liberation from the protonated intermediate. Kinetic parameters are calculated and the aquation mechanism is discussed.     

Catalytic effect of anionic micelles on alkaline hydrolysis of N-hydroxyphthalimide. Evidence for the probable occurrence of the reaction in between Gouy-Chapman and exterior boundary of Stern layers of the micelles

The nucleophilic second-order rate constant (k_OH) for the reaction of ōH with ionized N-hydroxyphthalimide (S^?) appears to follow a reaction mechanism similar to that for reactions of ōH with neutral phthalimide and its N-substituted derivatives. Kinetically indistinguishable terms, k′_w[H₂O][S^?] and k_ōH[ōH][SH] (SH represents nonionized N-hydroxyphthalimide), which constitute the pH-independent rate region of the pH-rate profile, are resolved qualitatively. It is shown that the term k_ōH[ōH][SH], rather than k′_w[H₂O][S^?], is important in these reactions. The rates of ōH-catalyzed cleavage of S^? were studied at 32° in the presence of micelles of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS). At a constant [ōH], the observed pseudo first-order rate constants (k_obs) increase linearly with [SDS]_T (total SDS concentration). These data are explained in terms of the pseudophase model of micellar effects on reactivity. The linear dependence of k_obs with [SDS]_T (within [SDS]_T range of 0.0–0.2 or 0.3 M) is attributed to the occurrence of the reaction between the exterior boundary of Stern layer and Gouy-Chapman layer.     

A novel one‐dimensional silver cylinder stabilized by mixed 2‐mercaptobenzoic acid and ethylenediamine ligands

A novel infinite one‐dimensional silver cylinder, namely poly[μ‐ethylenediamine‐μ₅‐(2‐sulfanidylbenzoato)‐μ₄‐(2‐sulfanidylbenzoato)‐tetrasilver(I)], [Ag₄(C₇H₄O₂S)₂(C₂H₈N₂)]_n, has been synthesized by one‐pot reaction of equivalent molar silver nitrate and 2‐mercaptobenzoic acid (H₂mba) in the presence of ethylenediamine (eda). One Ag atom is located in an AgS₂NO four‐coordinated tetrahedral geometry, two other Ag atoms are in an AgS₂O three‐coordinated T‐shaped geometry and the fourth Ag atom is in an AgSNO coordination environment. The two mba ligands show two different binding modes. The μ₂‐N:N′‐eda ligand, acting as a bridge, combines with mba ligands to extend the Ag^I ions into a one‐dimensional silver cylinder incorporating abundant Ag...Ag interactions ranging from 2.9298 (11) to 3.2165 (13) Å. Interchain N—H...O hydrogen bonds extend the one‐dimensional cylinder into an undulating two‐dimensional sheet, which is further packed into a three‐dimensional supramolecular framework by van der Waals interactions; no π–π interactions were observed in the crystal structure.     

Manganese(II), lead(II) and cadmium(II) coordination complexes containing a tetrazole‐based acylamide ligand: synthesis and the influence of the metal ions on the structures

Three new manganese(II), lead(II) and cadmium(II) coordination complexes have been prepared by reaction of N‐(1H‐tetrazol‐5‐yl)cinnamamide (HNTCA) with divalent metal salts (MnCl₂, PbCl₂ and CdCl₂) in a mixed‐solvent system, affording mononuclear to trinuclear structures namely, bis(methanol‐κO)bis[5‐(3‐phenylprop‐2‐enamido)‐1H‐1,2,3,4‐tetrazol‐1‐ido‐κ²N¹,O]manganese(II), [Mn(C₁₀H₈N₅O)₂(CH₃OH)₂], (1), bis[μ‐5‐(3‐phenylprop‐2‐enamido)‐1H‐1,2,3,4‐tetrazol‐1‐ido]‐κ³N¹,O:N²;κ³N²:N¹,O‐bis{aqua[5‐(3‐phenylprop‐2‐enamido)‐1H‐1,2,3,4‐tetrazol‐1‐ido‐κ²N¹,O]lead(II)}, [Pb₂(C₁₀H₈N₅O)₄(H₂O)₂], (2), and hexakis[μ₂‐5‐(3‐phenylprop‐2‐enamido)‐1H‐1,2,3,4‐tetrazol‐1‐ido‐κ³N¹,O:N²]tricadmium(II), [Cd₃(C₁₀H₈N₅O)₆], (3). The structures of these three compounds reveal that the nature of the metal ions and the side groups of the organic building blocks have a significant effect on the structures of the coordination compounds formed. Intermolecular hydrogen bonds link the molecules into two‐dimensional [complex (1)] and three‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded networks. Complexes (2) and (3) show significant fluorescence, while complex (1) displays no fluorescence.     

Designing a heterotrinuclear CuII—NiII—CuII complex from a mononuclear CuII Schiff base precursor with dicyanamide as a coligand: synthesis,crystal structure,thermal and photoluminescence properties

Schiff bases are considered `versatile ligands' in coordination chemistry. The design of polynuclear complexes has become of interest due to their facile preparations and varied synthetic, structural and magnetic properties. The reaction of the `ligand complex' [CuL] {H₂L is 2,2′‐[propane‐1,3‐diylbis(nitrilomethanylylidene)]diphenol} with Ni(OAc)₂·4H₂O (OAc is acetate) in the presence of dicyanamide (dca) leads to the formation of bis(dicyanamido‐1κN¹)bis(dimethyl sulfoxide)‐2κO,3κO‐bis{μ‐2,2′‐[propane‐1,3‐diylbis(nitrilomethanylylidene)]diphenolato}‐1:2κ⁶O,O′:O,N,N′,O′;1:3κ⁶O,O′:O,N,N′,O′‐dicopper(II)nickel(II), [Cu₂Ni(C₁₇H₁₆N₂O₂)₂(C₂N₃)₂(C₂H₆OS)₂]. The complex shows strong absorption bands in the frequency region 2155–2269 cm⁻¹, which clearly proves the presence of terminal bonding dca groups. A single‐crystal X‐ray study revealed that two [CuL] units coordinate to an Ni^II atom through the phenolate O atoms, with double phenolate bridges between Cu^II and Ni^II atoms. Two terminal dca groups complete the distorted octahedral geometry around the central Ni^II atom. According to differential thermal analysis–thermogravimetric analysis (DTA–TGA), the title complex is stable up to 423 K and thermal decomposition starts with the release of two coordinated dimethyl sulfoxide molecules. Free H₂L exhibits photoluminescence properties originating from intraligand (π–π*) transitions and fluorescence quenching is observed on complexation of H₂L with Cu^II.     

Zero-Order Catalysis in TAML-Catalyzed Oxidation of Imidacloprid,a Neonicotinoid Pesticide

Bis-sulfonamide bis-amide TAML activator [Fe{4-NO₂C₆H₃-1,2-(NCOCMe₂NSO₂)₂CHMe}]⁻ ( 2 ) catalyzes oxidative degradation of the oxidation-resistant neonicotinoid insecticide, imidacloprid (IMI), by H₂O₂ at pH 7 and 25 °C, whereas the tetrakis-amide TAML [Fe{4-NO₂C₆H₃-1,2-(NCOCMe₂NCO)₂CF₂}]⁻ ( 1 ), previously regarded as the most catalytically active TAML, is inactive under the same conditions. At ultra-low concentrations of both imidacloprid and 2 , 62 % of the insecticide was oxidized in 2 h, at which time the catalyst is inactivated; oxidation resumes on addition of a succeeding aliquot of 2 . Acetate and oxamate were detected by ion chromatography, suggesting deep oxidation of imidacloprid. Explored at concentrations [ 2 ]≥[IMI], the reaction kinetics revealed unusually low kinetic order in 2 (0.164±0.006), which is observed alongside the first order in imidacloprid and an ascending hyperbolic dependence in [H₂O₂]. Actual independence of the reaction rate on the catalyst concentration is accounted for in terms of a reversible noncovalent binding between a substrate and a catalyst, which usually results in substrate inhibition when [catalyst]≪[substrate] but explains the zero order in the catalyst when [ 2 ]>[IMI]. A plausible mechanism of the TAML-catalyzed oxidations of imidacloprid is briefly discussed. Similar zero-order catalysis is presented for the oxidation of 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol by H₂O₂, catalyzed by the TAML analogue of 1 without a NO₂-group in the aromatic ring.     

Chromium(III)-isonicotinate Complexes. Kinetics and Mechanism of Isonicotinate Ligand Liberation in HClO4 Solutions

Chromium(III)-isonicotinate complexes, cis-[Cr(C₂O₄)₂(N-inic)(H₂O)]^- and [Cr(C₂O₄)(H₂O)₃-OH-Cr(C₂O₄)₂(O-inic)]^-(N-inic)(H₂ (N-inic = N-bonded and O-inic = O-bonded isonicotinic acid) were obtained and characterized in solution. Kinetics of acid-catalyzed isonicotinate ligand liberation were studied spectrophotometrically in the 0.1–1.0 m HClO₄ range, at I=1.0 m. The dependencies of the pseudo-first order rate constant on [H⁺] were established: k_obs = k₀+k_HQ_H[H⁺] and k_obs = k_HQ_H[H⁺] for the N-inic and O-inic complex, respectively, where k₀ and k_H are the rate constants of the spontaneous and the acid-catalyzed reaction paths, and Q_H is the protonation constant of the carboxylic group in isonicotinic ligand. The obtained results indicate that N-bonded isonicotinic acid liberation occurs mainly via a spontaneous reaction path and is much slower than O-bonded inic liberation. The mechanisms for these processes are proposed.     

A kinetic study on the iron(III)-promoted aquation of [Cr(C2O4)2(picolinato)]2− and [Cr(C2O4)2(2-pyridineacetato)]2− complexes

Two [Cr(C₂O₄)₂(AB)]^2– type complexes, obtained from the reaction of cis-[Cr(C₂O₄)₂(H₂O)₂]^– with the AB ligand, [AB = picolinic (pyac) or 2-pyridine-ethanoic acid (pyeac) anions], were converted into [Cr(C₂O₄)(pyac)(H₂O)₂]⁰ and [Cr(C₂O₄)(pyeac)(H₂O)₂]⁰ compounds, respectively via Fe^III-induced substitution of the oxalato ligand. The aquation products were separated chromatographically and their spectral characteristics and acid dissociation constants determined. The kinetics of the oxalato ligand substitution were studied with a 10–40 fold excess of Fe^III over [Cr^III] at [H⁺] = 0.2 M and at constant ionic strength 1.0 M (Na⁺, H⁺, Fe³⁺, ClO^– ₄). The reaction rate law is of the form: r = k _obs[Cr^III], where k _obs = kQ[Fe^III]/(1 + Q[Fe^III]). The first-order rate constants (k), preequilibria quotients (Q) and activation parameters derived from the k values have been determined. The reaction mechanism is discussed in terms of a Lewis acid catalyzed (induced) ligand substitution.     

Kinetics and mechanism of pyrogallol autoxidation: Calibration of the dynamic response of an oxygen electrode

The kinetics of the reaction between 1,2,3-trihydroxybenzene (pyrogallol) and O₂ (autoxidation) have been determined by monitoring the concentration of dissolved dioxygen with a polarographic oxygen electrode. The reaction is carried out in pseudo-first-order excess pyrogallol, 25°C, 0.08 M NaCl, and 0.04 M phosphate buffer in the pH range 6.9–10.5. Data collection precedes reaction initiation, but only the data recorded after the estimated 3.2 s dead time are used in kinetics calculations. Observed rate constants are corrected for incomplete mixing, which is treated as a first-order process that has an experimentally determined mixing rate constant of 4.0 s^?1. The rate law for the reaction is ?d[O₂]/dt=k_app[PYR]_tot[O₂], in which [PYR]_tot is the total stoichiometric pyrogallol concentration. A mechanism is presented which explains the increase in rate with increasing [OH^?] by postulating that H₂PYR^? (k₂) has greater reactivity with dissolved dioxygen than does H₃PYR (k₁). The data best fit the equation k_app=(k₁ + k₂K_H[OH^?])/(1 + K_H[OH^?]) when the value of the hydrolysis constant K_H (the quotient of the pyrogallol acid dissociation and water autoprotolysis constants) for this medium equals 3.1×10⁴ M^?1. The resulting values of k₁ and k₂, respectively, equal (0.13 + 0.01) M^?1 s^?1 and (3.5 plusmn; 0.1) M^?1 s^?1. This reaction is recommended as a test reaction for calibrating the dynamic response of an O₂-electrode. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Bis­(acetato‐κ2O,O′)(2,9‐di­methyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline‐κ2N,N′)mercury(II) in two differently hydrated crystal forms

Two differently hydrated crystal forms of the title compound, viz. bis­(acetato‐κ²O,O′)(2,9‐di­methyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline‐κ²N,N′)­mercury(II), [Hg(C₂H₃O₂)₂(C₁₄H₁₂N₂)] or [HgAc₂(dmph)] [dmph is 2,3‐di­methyl‐1,10‐phenantroline (neocuproine) and Ac is acetate], (I), and tris­[bis­(acetato‐κ²O,O′)(2,9‐di­methyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline‐κ²N,N′)­mercury(II)] hexadecahydrate, [Hg(C₂H₃O₂)₂(C₁₄H₁₂N₂)]₃·16H₂O or [HgAc₂(dmph)]₃·16H₂O, (II), are presented. Both structures are composed of very simple monomeric units, which act as the building blocks of complex packing schemes stabilized by a diversity of π–π and hydrogen‐bonding interactions.     

Crystal structures and Hirshfeld surface analysis of transition‐metal complexes of 1,3‐azolecarboxylic acids

The crystal structures of five new transition‐metal complexes synthesized using thiazole‐2‐carboxylic acid (2‐Htza), imidazole‐2‐carboxylic acid (2‐H₂ima) or 1,3‐oxazole‐4‐carboxylic acid (4‐Hoxa), namely diaquabis(thiazole‐2‐carboxylato‐κ²N,O)cobalt(II), [Co(C₄H₂NO₂S)₂(H₂O)₂], 1 , diaquabis(thiazole‐2‐carboxylato‐κ²N,O)nickel(II), [Ni(C₄H₂NO₂S)₂(H₂O)₂], 2 , diaquabis(thiazole‐2‐carboxylato‐κ²N,O)cadmium(II), [Cd(C₄H₂NO₂S)₂(H₂O)₂], 3 , diaquabis(1H‐imidazole‐2‐carboxylato‐κ²N³,O)cobalt(II), [Co(C₄H₂N₂O₂)₂(H₂O)₂], 4 , and diaquabis(1,3‐oxazole‐4‐carboxylato‐κ²N,O⁴)cobalt(II), [Co(C₄H₂NO₃)₂(H₂O)₂], 5 , are reported. The influence of the nature of the heteroatom and the position of the carboxyl group in relation to the heteroatom on the self‐assembly process are discussed based upon Hirshfeld surface analysis and used to explain the observed differences in the single‐crystal structures and the supramolecular frameworks and topologies of complexes 1 – 5 .     

Ruthenium(III)-catalyzed mechanistic studies of oxidation of benzhydrols by sodium N-chloro-p-toluenesulfonamide in HCl medium

The kinetics of oxidation of benzhydrol and its p-substituted derivatives (YBH, where Y=H, Cl, Br, NO₂, CH₃, and OCH₃) by sodium N-chloro-p-toluenesulfonamide or chloramine-T (CAT), catalyzed by ruthenium(III) chloride, in the presence of hydrochloric acid in 30% (v/v) MeOH medium has been studied at 35°C. The reaction rate shows a first-order dependence on [CAT]_O and a fractional-order each on [ YBH]_O, [Ru(III)], and [H⁺]. The reaction also has a negative fractional-order (−0.35) behavior in the reduction product of CAT, p-toluenesulfonamide (PTS). The increase in MeOH content of the solvent medium retards the rate. The variation of ionic strength of the medium has negligible effect on the rate. Rate studies in D₂O medium show that the solvent isotope effect, k′H₂O/k′D₂O, is equal to 0.60. Proton inventory studies have been made in H₂O(SINGLEBOND)D₂O mixtures. The rates correlate satisfactorily with Hammett σ relationship. The LFE relationship plot is biphasic and the reaction constant ρ=−2.3 for electron donating groups and ρ=−0.32 for electron withdrawing groups at 35°C. Activation parameters ΔH^≠, ΔS^≠, and ΔG^≠ have been calculated. The parameters, ΔH^≠ and ΔS^≠, are linearly related with an isokinetic temperature β=334 K indicating enthalpy as a controlling factor. A mechanism consistent with the observed kinetics has been proposed. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The kinetics of oxidation of N(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediaminetriacetatocobaltate(II) by peroxodisulfate ion in aqueous acidic solutions

Summary Peroxodisulfate ion readily oxidises Co^II-YOH [YOH =N(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediaminetriacetate] with the formation of an intermediate complex. The kinetics of the electron-transfer step follow the rate law: Rate = 2k_HK_H[H⁺][S₂O₈]²-[Co^II-YOH]/(1 + K_H[H⁺]) where [S₂O₈]^2– is the total peroxodisulfate concentration, k_H is the rate constant for the electron-transfer process, and K_H is the pre-equilibrium protonation constant. Activation parameters have been evaluated. The intermediate, which was identified spectrophotometrically, slowly rearranges to the quinquedentate species Co(YOH)(H₂O). The rate of this rearangement has also been measured.     

Inner-sphere oxidation of 2-aminomethylpyridinecobalt(II) complex by N-bromosuccinimide

The kinetics of the oxidation of the 2-aminomethylpyridineCo^II complex by N-bromosuccinimide (NBS), have been studied in aqueous solutions under various conditions, and obey the following rate law:Rate = [NBS][Co(L)(H₂O)₂]²⁺[k₂₊k₃/[H⁺]]An inner-sphere mechanism is proposed for the oxidation pathway for both protonated and deprotonated complex species, with the formation of an intermediate, which is slowly converted into the final oxidation products. The reaction rate is increased by increasing the pH, T, [complex], and decreased by increasing ionic strength over the range studied.     

Controllable assembly of a three‐dimensional metal–organic supramolecular framework displaying hydrogen‐bonding and π–π stacking interactions

The complex poly[[aqua(μ₂‐phthalato‐κ²O¹:O²){μ₃‐2‐[3‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl]acetato‐κ⁴N²,N³:O:O′}{μ₂‐2‐[3‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl]acetato‐κ³N²,N³:O}dizinc(II)] dihydrate], {[Zn₂(C₁₀H₈N₃O₂)₂(C₈H₄O₄)(H₂O)]·2H₂O}_n, has been prepared by solvothermal reaction of 2‐[3‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl]acetonitrile (PPAN) with zinc(II). Under hydrothermal conditions, PPAN is hydrolyzed to 2‐[3‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl]acetate (PPAA⁻). The structure determination reveals that the complex is a one‐dimensional double chain containing cationic [Zn₄(PPAA)₄]⁴⁺ structural units, which are further extended by bridging phthalate ligands. The one‐dimensional chains are extended into a three‐dimensional supramolecular architecture via hydrogen‐bonding and π–π stacking interactions.     

Mononuclear and three‐dimensional metal complexes based on a multidentate hydrazone ligand

A potentially pentadentate hydrazone ligand, N′‐[1‐(pyrazin‐2‐yl)ethylidene]nicotinohydrazide (HL), was prepared from the condensation reaction of nicotinohydrazide and acetylpyrazine. Reactions of HL with MnCl₂, Mn(CH₃COO)₂ and Cd(CH₃COO)₂ afforded three metal complexes, namely dichlorido{N′‐[1‐(pyrazin‐2‐yl‐κN¹)ethylidene]nicotinohydrazide‐κ²N′,O}manganese(II), [MnCl₂(C₁₂H₁₁N₅O)], (I), bis{N′‐[1‐(pyrazin‐2‐yl‐κN¹)ethylidene]nicotinohydrazidato‐κ²N′,O]manganese(II), [Mn(C₁₂H₁₀N₅O)₂], (II), and poly[[(acetato‐κ²O,O′){μ₃‐N′‐[1‐(pyrazin‐2‐yl‐κ²N¹:N⁴)ethylidene]nicotinohydrazidato‐κ³N′,O:N¹}cadmium(II)] chloroform disolvate], {[Cd(C₁₂H₁₀N₅O)(CH₃COO)]·2CHCl₃}_n, (III), respectively. Complex (I) has a mononuclear structure, the Mn^II centre adopting a distorted square‐pyramidal coordination. Complex (II) also has a mononuclear structure, with the Mn^II centre occupying a special position (C₂ symmetry) and adopting a distorted octahedral coordination environment, which is defined by two O atoms and four N atoms from two N′‐[1‐(pyrazin‐2‐yl)ethylidene]nicotinohydrazidate (L⁻) ligands related via a crystallographic twofold axis. Complex (III) features a unique three‐dimensional network with rectangular channels, and the L⁻ ligand also serves as a counter‐anion. The coordination geometry of the Cd^II centre is pentagonal bipyramidal. This study demonstrates that HL, which can act as either a neutral or a mono‐anionic ligand, is useful in the construction of interesting metal–organic compounds.