Dinuclear Co(III)/Co(III) and Co(II)/Co(III) mixed-valent complexes: synthetic control of the cobalt oxidation level

The reactivity of cobalt(II) salts towards H(3)L (2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-1,3-bis[4-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-azabut-3-enyl]-1,3-imidazolidine) was studied in different reaction conditions. Accordingly, the interaction of cobalt(II) acetate with H(3)L in methanol gives rise to the discrete complex [Co(III)(2)L(OAc)(2)(OMe)]*1.5H(2)O.MeOH, 1. Reaction of cobalt(II) acetylacetonate with H(3)L in the presence of dicarboxylic acids was also investigated. Thus, when cobalt(II) acetylacetonate and H(3)L are mixed with terephthalic or malonic acid in 4 : 2 : 1 molar ratios, the mixed valent [Co(II/III)(2)L(acac)(p-O(2)CC(6)H(4)CO(2)H)][Co(II/III)(2)L(acac)(OH)]*2H(2)O*2MeOH, 2 and [Co(II/III)(2)L(acac)(O(2)CCH(2)CO(2)H)][Co(II/III)(2)L(acac)(OH)]*7H(2)O, complexes are isolated. Decreasing the pH of the medium, by addition of a second mol of dicarboxylic acid, leads to [Co(II/III)(2)L(O(2)CCH(2)CO(2))(MeOH)]*2MeOH, 4, while the reaction with terephthalic acid does not proceed. 1, 2 and 4 were crystallographically characterised and all the complexes are dinuclear, with hydrogen bonds that expand the initial nodes. The magnetic characterisation, as well as the NMR spectroscopy, indicates a diamagnetic nature for 1, in agreement with the presence of Co(III), showing the aerial oxidation suffered by the cobalt(II) ions. Nevertheless, are paramagnetic. Temperature variable magnetic measurements were recorded for the crystallographically characterised complexes 2 and 4 and these studies confirm the mixed valence Co(II)/Co(III) nature of the compounds. The best fits of the magnetic data give an axial distortion parameter Delta = 628.7 cm(-1) for 2 and 698.8 cm(-1) for 4, and spin-orbit coupling constant lambda = -117.8 cm(-1) for 2 and -107.0 cm(-1) for 4. Therefore, this study shows that the oxidation degree of the initial cobalt(ii) salt by atmospheric oxygen can be controlled according to the pH of the medium.     

Ruthenium(II) and ruthenium(III) complexes derived from O,O-donor ligands

The new [Ru¹¹(PPh₃)₂L₂] complexes [L=monoanion of tropolone, benzoylacetone, or 3-hydroxy-2-pyridinone (hypy)], [RuH(PPh₃)₃L′][HL′=maltol, dibenzoylmethane or 1,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-4-pyridinone (Hdmhypy)] and [Ru^IIIX₂(EPh₃)₂L″] complexes (X=Cl, Br; E=As or P; L″=hypy, dmhypy) have been prepared, and characterized by spectroscopic techniques. Their redox behaviour was studied by cyclic voltammetry. Most of the complexes were found to be effective catalysts for the oxidation ofp-methoxybenzyl alcohol to the corresponding aldehyde in the presence ofN-methylmorpholine-N-oxide as co-oxidant.     

Oxidation of mixed-valence Co(III)/Fe(II) complexes reversed at high pH: a kinetico-mechanistic study of water oxidation

The outer-sphere oxidation of Fe(II) in the mixed-valence complex trans-[L(14S)Co(III)NCFe(II)(CN)(6)](-), being L(14S) an N(3)S(2) macrocylic donor set on the cobalt(III) center, has been studied. The comparison with the known processes of N(5) macrocycle complexes has been carried out in view of the important differences occurring on the redox potential of the cobalt center. The results indicate that the outer-sphere oxidation reactions with S(2)O(8)(2-) and [Co(ox)(3)](3-) involve a great amount of solvent-assisted hydrogen bonding that, as a consequence from the change from two amines to sulfur donors, are more restricted. This is shown by the more positive values found for DeltaS(#) and DeltaV(#). The X-ray structure of the oxidized complex has been determined, and it is clearly indicative of the above-mentioned solvent-assisted hydrogen bonding between nitrogen and cyanide donors on the cobalt and iron centers, respectively. trans-[L(14S)Co(III)NCFe(III)(CN)(6)], as well as the analogous N(5) systems trans-[L(14)Co(III)NCFe(III)(CN)(6)], trans-[L(15)Co(III)NCFe(III)(CN)(6)], and cis-[L(13)Co(III)NCFe(III)(CN)(6)], oxidize water to hydrogen peroxide at pH > 10 with a rather simple stoichiometry, i.e., [L(n)()Co(III)NCFe(III)(CN)(5)] + OH(-) --> [L(n)()Co(III)NCFe(II)(CN)(5)](-) + (1)/(2)H(2)O(2). In this way, the reversibility of the iron oxidation process is achieved. The determination of kinetic and thermal and pressure activation parameters for this water to hydrogen peroxide oxidation leads to the kinetic determination of a cyanide based OH(-) adduct of the complex. A second-order dependence on the base concentration is associated with deprotonation of this adduct to produce the final inner-sphere reduction process. The activation enthalpies are found to be extremely low (15 to 35 kJ mol(-1)) and responsible for the very fast reaction observed. The values of DeltaS(#) and DeltaV(#) (-76 to -113 J K(-1) mol(-1) and -5.5 to -8.9 cm(3) mol(-1), respectively) indicate a highly organized but not very compressed transition state in agreement with the inner-sphere one-electron transfer from O(2-) to Fe(III).     

Stereochemistry of silicon tetrafluoride complexes with N- and O-donor ligands

Known experimental and theoretical data used in the analysis of stereoisomeric structures of penta-and hexacoordinate silicon tetrafluoride complexes with the molecular N-and O-donor ligands are discussed.     

Dinuclear nickel(II) complexes with ONO-pincer and coordinated aquo ligands as a robust homogeneous water oxidation catalyst

Russian Chemical Bulletin - A nickel(II) complex with the newly synthesized dicarboxamide ligand [H2LBZ][(CF3SO3)Cl] was explored as a water oxidation catalysis. All the synthesized compounds were...     

Dinuclear rhodium(II) pivalate complexes with N-donor ligands

Eight dinuclear rhodium(II) complexes containing various, (primarily, polyfunctional) N-donor ligands in the trans position with respect to the Rh-Rh bond were synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction. In the Chinese-lantern dinuclear rhodium(II) pivalates, Rh^II ₂ (μ-OOCCMe₃)₄(L)₂ (L is 2,3-diaminopyridine (2), 7,8-benzoquinoline (4), 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine (5), N-phenyl-o-phenylenediamine (7)), and Rh^II ₂ (μ-OOCCMe₃)₄L¹L² (3, L¹ is 2-phenylpyridine, L² = MeCN), the steric effects of the axial ligands are most strongly reflected in the Rh-N(L) and Rh-Rh bond lengths. The introduction of chelating ligands containing a conformationally rigid chelate ring leads to the cleavage of two carboxylate bridges to form the dinuclear double-bridged structure Rh^II ₂ (μ- OOCCMe₃)₂(OCCMe₃)₂(η²-L³)₂, where L³ is 8-amino-2,4-dimethylquinoline (6). The reaction of complex 7 containing coordinated N-phenyl-o-phenylenediamine with pyrrole-2,5-dialdehyde afforded the new Rh^II ₂(μ-OOCCMe₃)₄(L⁴)₂ complex (8) containing 5-(1-phenyl-1-H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-1H-pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde (L⁴) in the axial positions of the dirhodium tetracarboxylate fragment. The coordinated diamine differs in reactivity from the free diamine. The reaction of the former with the above dialdehyde affords the [1+1]-condensation product, viz., 5-{(E)-[(2-anilinophenyl)imino]methyl}-1-H-pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde, whereas the reaction of unsubstituted o-phenylenediamine gives 5-{(E)-[(2-aminophenyl)imino]methyl}-1-H-pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde (L⁵) . The reaction of the latter with Rh^II ₂(μ-OOCCMe₃)₄(H₂O)₂ affords the dinuclear complex Rh^II ₂(μ-OOCCMe₃)₂(OOCCMe₃)₂(η²-L⁵)₂ (9), which is an analog of complex 6 containing only two bridging carboxylate groups.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 581–591, March, 2005.     

Synthesis and characterization of tetrahedrally and octahedrally coordinated mixed-valence Co(II)/Co(III) complex with thiosemicarbazone-based ligand

Synthesis, characterization, and X-ray crystal structure for a mixed-valence binuclear Co(II)/Co(III) complex with the dianionic dithiolate form of a pentadentate ligand 2,6-diacetylpyridinebis(thiosemicarbazone) are reported. A new synthetic methodology has been employed replacing usual cobalt(II) salts by [Co(NH₃)₅Cl]Cl₂ as a precursor. The coordination geometry of cobalt(II), CoN₂S₂, was found to be distorted tetrahedral, whereas the cobalt(III) coordination sphere, CoN₄S₂, is slightly distorted octahedral. The magnetic behavior and molar conductivity of the complex are in agreement with the mixed-valence state.     

Dinuclear triple helical Mn(III), Fe(III) and Co(III) complexes

Synthesis, characterization and physical properties of the dinuclear triple helical complexes [Mn₂(μ-L)₃] (1), [Fe₂(μ-L)₃] (2) and [Co₂(μ-L)₃] (3) with the tetradentate Schiff base (H₂L) derived from 1 mol equiv. of hydrazine and 2 mole equiv. of 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde are described. Triple helical molecular structures of 2 and 3 have been confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal complex 3 is diamagnetic while a weak antiferromagnetic interaction is operative between the metal centres in both 1 and 2.     

Heterovalent trinuclear Co(III)-Co(II)-Co(III) complexes with N-(2-Carboxyethyl)salicylaldimines

The heterovalent trinuclear cobalt complexes [Co₂^IIIL₄ ⁱ · Co^II(H₂O)₄] · nXmY (L ⁱ are deprotonated Schiff bases derived from substituted salicylaldehydes and β-alanine; i = 1–3) were obtained and characterized. An X-ray diffraction study of the trinuclear cobalt complex with N-(2-carboxyethyl)salicylaldimine showed that the central Co(II) ion and the terminal Co(III) ions are linked by bridging carboxylate groups. Either terminal Co(III) atom is coordinated to two ligand molecules. They form an octahedral environment consisting of two azomethine N atoms, two phenolate O atoms, and two O atoms of two carboxylate groups. The central Co(II) atom is coordinated to four water molecules and to two O atoms of two bridging carboxylate ligands involved in the coordination sphere of the terminal Co(III) atoms.     

Dinuclear complexes with bis(benzenedithiolate) ligands

As a part of a broader study directed towards helical coordination compounds with benzenedithiolate donors, we have synthesized the bis(benzenedithiol) ligands 1,2-bis(2,3-dimercaptobenzamido)ethane (H(4)-1) and 1,2-bis(2,3-dimercaptophenyl)ethane (H(4)-2). Both ligands form dinuclear complexes with Ni(II), Ni(III) and, after air-oxidation, Co(III) ions under equilibrium conditions. Complexes (NEt(4))(4)[Ni(II)(2)(1)(2)] (11 b), (NEt(4))(2)[Ni(III)(2)(1)(2)] (13), and Na(4)[Ni(II)(2)(2)(2)] (14) were characterized by X-ray diffraction. In all complexes, two square-planar [Ni(S(2)C(6)H(3)R)(2)] units are linked in a double-stranded fashion by the carbon backbone and they assume a coplanar arrangement in a stair-like manner. Cyclic voltammetric investigations show a strong dependence of the redox potential on the type of the ligand. The substitution of 1(4-) for 2(4-) on nickel (-785 mV for 11 b versus -1130 mV for 14, relative to ferrocene) affects the redox potential to a similar degree as the substitution of nickel for cobalt (-1160 mV for [Co(2)(1)(2)](2-)/[Co(2)(1)(2)](4-), relative to ferrocene). The redox waves display a markedly less reversible behavior for complexes with the shorter bridged ligand 2(4-) compared to those of 1(4-).     

Synthesis,characterization, and electrochemical studies of Co(II,III) dithiocarbamate complexes

Cobalt(II) complexes of N-methyl phenyl, 1-phenylpiperazyl, and morpholinyl dithiocarbamates have been synthesized and characterized by UV–Visible, FTIR, ¹H-, ¹³C-NMR, and mass spectrometry. The spectroscopic data indicated that two ligands coordinated in bidentate chelating to the metal ion to form four-coordinate cobalt(II) complexes (1–3), which was confirmed by mass analysis (TOF MS ES⁺) of the complexes with m/z [M]⁺ = 450.98, 382.94, and 382.94 for 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Single crystal analysis of 2A and 3A show centrosymmetric mononuclear cobalt(III) bonded to three dithiocarbamate ligands forming a distorted octahedral geometry, indicating the cobalt(II) undergoes aerial oxidation to cobalt(III) during recrystallization. In addition, 2A crystallized with one solvated molecule of toluene. The redox behaviors of the complexes were studied by cyclic and square wave voltammetry in dichloromethane; the result revealed a metal centered redox process consisting of a one-electron quasi-reversible process assigned to Co(III)/Co(IV) oxidation and a corresponding Co(IV)/Co(III) reduction. Randles–Sevcik plots (anodic peak current versus the square root of the scan rate (I_p,a versus ν^1/2)) for the redox couples revealed diffusion-controlled behavior.     

Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes with imidazole-containing ligands: Synthesis,structural characterization,and magnetic property

Hydrothermal reaction of Co(II) salt with 1,4-di(1-imidazolyl)benzene (L¹) and 4,4’-oxydiphthalic acid (H₄OA) yields a new complex [Co₃(HOA)₂(L¹)₄(H₂O)₄] (I). [Ni(L²)₂SO₄] · 0.5H₂O (II) can be obtained via the hydrothermal reaction of NiSO₄ · 6H₂O with 1,3-di(1H-imidazol-4-yl)benzene (L²). Complexes I and II have been characterized by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction (CIF files CCDC nos. 1019291 (I) and 1019292 (II)), IR, elemental, and thermogravimetric analyses. Complex I exhibits the uninodal six-connected 3D pcu framework structure of I with (4¹² · 6³) topology; Complex II consists of the uninodal four-connected 2D sql (4⁴ · 6²) networks. In addition, magnetic property of I was investigated.     

Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes with Schiff base ligands: Synthesis,characterization, and biological activity

The ligands, 1-acetylferrocenehydrazinecarboxamide (HL¹) and 1-acetylferrocenehydrazinecarbothioamide (HL²), and their Ni(II) and Co(II) complexes were synthesized. The properties of the synthesized compounds were determined by the elemental and spectroscopic analyses. Ni(II) and Co(II) acetates interact with the ligands at the molar ratios 1 : 1 and 1 : 2 to give coloured products. The complexes have octahedral geometry. The ligands are coordinated to Co(II) and Ni(II) centers via the azomethine nitrogen and thiolic sulfur /enolic oxygen atom. The ligands and their Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes were screened for antibacterial and antifungal activities. The Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes show enhanced inhibitory activity as compared to their parent ligands. The DNA cleavage activity of the Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes was determined by gel electrophoresis. It was shown that the complexes have better cleavage activity than the ligands. The antioxidant activity of the complexes was also evaluated and used to examine their scavenging ability on hydrogen peroxide.     

Co(II) and Co(III) complexes of m-benziphthalocyanine

The syntheses and structural elucidations of three different cobalt complexes of m-benziphthalocyanine are reported; both Co(II) and Co(III) complexes can be generated, and the ring undergoes partial oxidation upon metalation with Co(OAc)2x4H2O.     

Dinuclear copper(II) complexes with ethylenediamine derivative and bridging oxalato ligands: solvatochromism and density functional theory studies

Two oxalato-bridged copper(II) complexes of formula, [Cu₂(L¹)₂(µ-ox)](NO₃)₂·H₂O, 1 and [Cu₂(L²)₂(µ-ox)](NO₃)₂·H₂O, 2 (ox = oxalato dianion, L¹ = N,N-dimethyl,N′-benzylethane-1,2-diamine, L² = N,N-diethyl,N′-benzylethane-1,2-diamine), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, spectroscopic (IR, UV–Vis) data and molar conductance measurements. The crystal structure of complex 1 was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis, revealing two centrosymmetric dinuclear units. The first consists of a [Cu₂(L¹)₂(µ-ox)(NO₃)₂] molecule, in which each Cu(II) center is in a square-pyramidal environment, providing two nitrogen atoms from the diamine-chelating ligands plus two oxygen atoms from the oxalate in the basal plane and an oxygen of the nitrate group in the axial position. The second unit [Cu₂(L¹)₂(µ-ox)(H₂O)₂](NO₃)₂ has a similar structure, but the apical sites are occupied by water ligands and the nitrate anions are free from coordination. Both complexes are solvatochromic. Their solvatochromism was investigated with different solvent parameter models using SPSS/PC and DFT methodology. The solvatochromic behaviors of the complexes were also explored by TD-DFT in ethanol and acetonitrile solvents. The calculated visible absorption spectra were in accord with the experimental results.     

Sulfur-bridged Co(III)Pt(II)Co(III) trinuclear complexes with mixed aliphatic and aromatic thiolate ligands: effect of nonbridging ligands on the homochiral linkage of cobalt(III) octahedrons by platinum(II)

The reaction of [Ni[Co(aet)(2)(pyt)](2)](2+) (aet = 2-aminoethanethiolate, pyt = 2-pyridinethiolate) with [PtCl(4)](2)(-) gave an S-bridged Co(III)Pt(II)Co(III) trinuclear complex composed of two [Co(aet)(2)(pyt)] units, [Pt[Co(aet)(2)(pyt)](2)](2+) ([1](2+)). When a 1:1 mixture of [Ni[Co(aet)(2)(pyt)](2)](2+) and [Ni[Co(aet)(2)(en)](2)](4+) was reacted with [PtCl(4)](2)(-), a mixed-type S-bridged Co(III)Pt(II)Co(III) complex composed of one [Co(aet)(2)(pyt)] and one [Co(aet)(2)(en)](+) units, [Pt[Co(aet)(2)(en)][Co(aet)(2)(pyt)]](3+) ([2](3+)), was produced, together with [1](2+) and [Pt[Co(aet)(2)(en)](2)](4+). The corresponding Co(III)Pt(II)Co(III) trinuclear complexes containing pymt (2-pyrimidinethiolate), [Pt[Co(aet)(2)(pymt)](2)](2+) ([3](2+)) and [Pt[Co(aet)(2)(en)][Co(aet)(2)(pymt)]](3+) ([4](3+)), were also obtained by similar reactions, using [Ni[Co(aet)(2)(pymt)](2)](2+) instead of [Ni[Co(aet)(2)(pyt)](2)](2+). While [Pt[Co(aet)(2)(en)](2)](4+) formed both the deltalambda (meso) and deltadelta/lambdalambda (racemic) forms in a ratio of ca. 1:1, the preferential formation of the deltadelta/lambdalambda form was observed for [1](2+) (ca. deltalambda:deltadelta/lambdalambda = 1:3) and [2](3+) (ca. delta(en)lambda(pyt)/lambda(en)delta(pyt):deltadelta/lambdalambda = 1:2). Furthermore, [3](2+) and [4](3+) predominantly formed the deltadelta/lambdalambda form. These results indicate that the homochiral selectivity for the S-bridged Co(III)Pt(II)Co(III) trinuclear complexes composed of two octahedral [Co(aet)(2)(L)](0 or +) units is enhanced in the order L = en < pyt < pymt. The isomers produced were separated and optically resolved, and the crystal structures of the meso-type deltalambda-[1]Cl(2).4H(2)O and the spontaneously resolved deltadelta-[4](ClO(4))(3).H(2)O were determined by X-ray analyses. In deltalambda-[1](2+), the delta and Lambda configurational mer(S).trans(N(aet))-[Co(aet)(2)(pyt)] units are linked by a square-planar Pt(II) ion through four aet S atoms to form a linear-type S-bridged trinuclear structure. In deltadelta-[4](3+), a similar linear-type trinuclear structure is constructed from the delta-mer(S).trans(N(aet))-[Co(aet)(2)(pymt)] and delta-C(2)-cis(S)-[Co(aet)(2)(en)](+) units that are bound by a Pt(II) ion with a slightly distorted square-planar geometry through four aet S atoms.     

Synthesis,crystal structure and spectral characterization of Co(II) complexes with acylpyrazolone ligands

The three new Cobalt(II) complexes [Co(L¹)₂(H₂O)₂] (1), [Co(L²)₂(H₂O)₂] (2), and [Co(L³)₂(H₂O)₂] (3) have been synthesized by interaction of acyl pyrazolone ligands, 4-(4-chlorobenzoyl)3-methyl1-phenyl1H-pyrazole5(4H)-one (HL¹), 4-(4-chlorobenzoyl)1-(3-chlorophenyl)3-methyl1H-pyrazole5(4H)-one (HL²) and 5-methyl4-(4-methylbenzoyl)2-phenyl2,4-dihydro3H-pyrazole3-one (HL³) with CoCl₂.6H₂O. The complexes were screened using FTIR, UV–Vis, TGA, and Single Crystal X-ray diffraction spectroscopic techniques. A relative study of the ligands’ FTIR spectra and their metal complexes reveal the formation, sifting, and disappearance of several bands during complexation. Other interpretations stipulated that these three complexes are mononuclear and exhibited octahedral geometry around Co²⁺.Triclinic crystal system, Distortion in Octahedral geometry, and Intermolecular hydrogen bonding confirmed by Single-crystal XRD analysis of [Co(L³)₂(EtOH)₂] complex.     

Synthesis and spectroscopic studies of new organotin(IV) complexes with tridentate N- and O-donor Schiff bases

The Schiff bases H₂L¹ and H₂L² have been prepared by the reaction of 2-amino-4-chlorophenol with pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde and 2-hydroxy-1-naphtaldehyde, respectively, and HL³ from reaction of 2-(aminomethyl)pyridine with 2-hydroxy-1-naphtaldehyde. Organotin complexes [SnPh₂(L¹)] (1), [SnPh₂(L²)] (2), [SnMe₂(L²)] (3) and [SnPhCl₂(L³)] (4) were synthesized from reaction of SnPh₂Cl₂ and SnMe₂Cl₂ with these Schiff bases. The synthesized complexes have been investigated by elemental analysis and FT-IR, ¹H NMR and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR spectroscopy. In complexes the Schiff bases are completely deprotonated and coordinated to tin as tridentate ligands via phenolic oxygen, pyrrolic, and imine nitrogens in 1, two phenolic oxygens and imine nitrogen in 2 and 3, and phenolic oxygen, imine and pyridine nitrogens in 4. The coordination number of tin in 1, 2, and 3 is five and in 4 is six.     

Oxalate-bridged mixed-valence trinuclear manganese(II)-manganese(III)-manganese(II) complexes: synthesis and magnetism

Summary Two novel Mn^II-Mn^III-Mn^II oxalato complexes have been synthesized and characterized, namely [Mn₂Mn(ox)₃(L)₄](ClO₄) [L = 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) or 5-nitro-1,10-phenanthroline (NO₂-phen), respectively], where ox stands for the oxalate dianion. Based on i.r., elemental analyses and electronic spectra, these complexes are proposed to have extended oxalatobridged structures consisting of Mn^II and Mn^III ions, in which Mn^III and each Mn^II ion has a distorted octahedral environment. The temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility for [Mn₂Mn(ox)₃(phen)₄] (ClO₄) was measured over the 4.1–300 K range and the observed data were successfully simulated by an equation based on the spin-Hamiltonian operator ( = -2J( _{1 2} + _{2 3})), giving the exchange integral J = -1.57cm^–1. This indicates weak antiferromagnetic spin exchange interaction between Mn^II and Mn^III ions.     

Experimental and theoretical characterization of Co(III) and Zn(II) complexes with phenol-based hexa-dentate macro-acyclic ligands: synthesis,density functional theory and time-dependent density functional theory studies

Macro-acyclic complexes with two dissimilar coordination sites: one includes six coordination set (N₄O₂) and the other a tetradentate donor set (N₂O₂) of the type [Co^IIIL^en]ClO₄ and [Co^IIIL^tn]ClO₄ (where L^en = N,N′-bis(pyridine-2-ylmethyl)-N,N′-bis(5-bromo-3-formyl-2-hydroxybenzyl)-1,2-diaminoethane and L^tn = N,N′-bis(pyridine-2-ylmethyl)-N,N′-bis(5-bromo-3-formyl-2-hydroxybenzyl)-1,3-diaminoepropane) have been synthesized and characterized. Characterization result revealed that in the synthetic procedure of [Co^IIIL^en]ClO₄ only an isomer (trans-pyridine/cis-phenolate) among three possible geometrical isomers is formed. However, synthesis of its counterpart, [Co^IIIL^tn]ClO₄ resulted in the formation of a mixture of geometrical isomers (trans-pyridine/cis-phenolate and cis-pyridine/cis-phenolate). The computational studies of these complexes demonstrated that in [Co^IIIL^tn]⁺ an equilibrium exists between two possible geometrical isomers as result of a small energy difference (0.72 kcal mol^?1), whereas in [Co^IIIL^en]⁺ the difference is (2.71 kcal mol^?1). Furthermore, [Zn^IIL^en] has been studied computationally and experimentally by IR, UV–Vis spectroscopy techniques. The results showed that it has a similar structure to [Co^IIIL^en]⁺ complex. Electronic spectra of the complexes were analyzed and the absorption bands were assigned through the density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TD–DFT) studies procedures. The molecular orbital diagrams of the complexes were also determined.