Syntheses and structures of Zn(II) and Ni(II) complexes of 4-N-(acetylacetone amine)acetophenone thiosemicarbazone

A new ligand, 4-N-(acetylacetone amine)acetophenone thiosemicarbazone (HL, 1), was synthesized by condensation of p-aminoacetophenone with thiosemicarbazide and acetylacetone. Treatment of HL with zinc acetate and nickel acetate afforded ZnL₂ (2) and NiL₂?·?DMF (3). The crystal structures of 1, 2 and 3 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. 2 and 3 have similar structures, in which metal atom is coordinated in a distorted tetrahedral configuration, and L^? coordinates to zinc(II) or nickel(II) through the azomethine nitrogen and the thiolato sulfur atom.