Thermal investigation of cobalt, nickel and copper complexes with 8-aminoquinoline

Complexes of Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) with 8-aminoquinoline were prepared and characterized, and their thermal behaviour and decomposition pathways were studied. The thermal stabilities are discussed in terms of ionic radii, crystal field splitting energy and steric hindrance. The effective roles of the counter-ions (Cl^? and NO ₃ ^? ) on the decomposition temperatures and the final products were also clarified. The energies of activation (E _a ) and the orders of some decomposition reactions were determined. Light is shed on the nature of the interaction of the water of crystallization and the polymorphic transformation phenomenon.