Lanthanum(III) chloride complexes with heterocyclic Schiff bases

Condensation of 2-amino-3-carboxyethyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzob]thiophene with carbonyl compounds such as isatin, o-hydroxyacetophenone or benzoin in 1:1 ratio in ethanol medium yielded three distinctly different heterocyclic Schiff bases viz. 2-(N-indole-2-one)amino-3-carboxyethyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzob]thiophene (ISAT), 2-(N-o-hydroxyacetophenone)amino- 3-carboxyethyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-benzob]thiophene (HAAT) or 2-(N-benzoin)amino-3-carboxyethyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzob]thiophene (HBAT) respectively. These ligands formed well defined complexes with lanthanum(III) chloride under suitable conditions. The ligands and the complexes have been characterized on the basis of elemental analyses, molar conductance measurements, UV-visible, IR and proton NMR spectral studies. Kinetics and mechanism of the thermal decomposition of the ligands and the metal complexes have been studied using non-isothermal thermogravimetry. Kinetic parameters were calculated for each step of the decomposition reactions using Coats-Redfern equation. The rate controlling process for all the ligands and complexes is random nucleation with the formation of one nucleus on each particle (Mampel equation). Relative thermal stabilities of the ligands and the metal complexes have been compared.