Structure and properties of an oxalato-bridged dinickel(II) complex with a tetraazamacrocycle bearing an aminomethyl pendant arm, 5-aminomethyl-5R(S),12R(S)-dimethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane

The oxalato-bridged dinickel(II) complex with the title ligand, Ni₂(L ^a H)₂(μ-ox)](ClO₄)₂·2H₂O (1), was prepared and its structure was determined by X-ray crystallography, as well as that of the monomeric nickel(II) complex, Ni(L ^a H)ox]ClO₄·3H₂O (2). In Complexes 1 and 2, the ligand, L ^a , is folded along the N(4)–Ni(1)–N(11) axis. The antiferromagnetic coupling between the two nickel(II) centers in 1 was revealed and the coupling constant, J?=??17.4?cm^?1, and g?=?2.11 were estimated. It was found that the oxalato-bridged dimer 1 was readily converted to the mononuclear cis-nickel(II) complex NiL ^a (OH₂)](ClO₄)₂ (3a), in basic aqueous solution. In NiL ^a (CH₃CN)]I₂ (3b), which was derived from 3a, the aminomethyl pendant arm is coordinated to the Ni(II) ion and L ^a is folded along the N(1)–Ni(1)–N(8) axis.