Thermal square planar-to-octahedral transformation of nickel(II) complexes containing butanediamines in a solid phase

Thermal reactions of the nickel(II) complexes, Ni(m-bn or i-bn)₂]X₂ and Ni(H₂O)₂(dl-bn)₂]X₂·n H₂O, where m-bn, i-bn, and dl-bn are meso-2,3-butanediamine, 2-methyl-1,2-propanediamine, and dl-2,3-butanediamine, respectively, X is Cl^?, Br^?, I^?, NO^?₃, or ClO^?₄, and n is 2 for bromide, and 0 for the others, were investigated in a solid phase before and after heating using thermal analyses (TG and DSC) and spectral and magnetic measurements. In the case of the chloride and bromide, the square planar bis(dl-bn) complexes obtained by dehydration of the respective diaqua complexes were transformed to the octahedral diacido bis(dl-bn) complexes upon further heating. The same structural transformation was observed in the thermal reactions of Ni(m-bn)₂](NO₃)₂ and Ni(i-bn)₂]Cl₂. It was summarily recognized that such square planar-to-octahedral transformation was favored in the order dl-bn > i-bn > m-bn complexes in the respective halides, and it was a reversible thermochromism from yellow to blue. The changes in enthalpy of the reactions were endothermic and fell in the range of about 10–20 kJ mole^?1. The possibility of such configurational change seems to be dependent mainly upon the ionic radius of the X anion, the orientation of two C-substituted methyl groups on butanediamines in the formation of the complexes, and the thermal stability of the complexes themselves.