Transition metal complexes with a polydentate Schiff base derived from 3-formylsalicylic acid and 1,2-bis(o-aminophenylthio)ethane

The reaction of 3-formylsalicylic acid with 1,2-bis(o-aminophenylthio)ethane yielded a Schiff base with eight donor centres N₂S₂O₄ of which the inner compartment is of an N₂S₂O₂ type and the outer is of the O₂O₂ type. The base forms several mononuclear homo- and hetero-dinuclear complexes: e.g. mononuclear Cu^II, Ni^II and dinuclear Cu^II, Ni^II, UO₂ ^VI complexes. Hetero-dinuclear complexes {M]M}, where M = the inner metal ion Cu^II, Ni^II and M = the outer metal ion Pd^II, UO₂ ^VI are also reported. The complexes were characterised by elemental analyses, spectral, thermal and magnetic measurements. Dicopper and dinickel complexes exhibit subnormal magnetic moments showing spin pairing between two metal centres, via the phenolato oxygen, whereas other mono-copper and mono-nickel complexes (both mononuclear and hetero-dinuclear) show the expected magnetic behaviour for 1e and 2e, respectively. The e.s.r. spectra of copper complexes also support the above behaviour.