Transition metal complexes with squarate anion and the pyridyl-donor ligand 1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane (BPP): Synthesis,crystal structure and spectroscopic investigation

Synthesis, crystal structure and the vibrational spectra of coordination polymers with 1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane (BPP) and squarate ion ligands and transition metal ions (M = Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺) are described. All compounds are isostructural, and the BPP is not coordinated to metal site since it is in cationic form due to protonation of N atoms from pyridyl rings. The metal is coordinated to two squarate ions and two water molecules in an octahedral distorted geometry. The two water molecules are involved in medium hydrogen bonds with squarate ligands and the average of O?O distance is 2.679(3) Å. Squarate ions adopt the 1,3-bis(monodentate) coordination mode bridging two metal centers giving rise to a 2D arrangement with (4,4) topology. The four-member ring is slightly distorted and the M–M distances are respectively 8.024 and 8.111 Å. The cationic form of BPP molecules are located inside of four-member ring cavity, presenting two different orientations, in which one molecule is inverted comparing to another. Vibrational spectra of all compounds are very similar, in agreement to crystal data. In all infrared spectra of the compounds a medium band at 1640 cm⁻¹ is observed, assigned to the in plane deformation mode of NH bond, indicative of the formation of cationic BPP. In the Raman spectra of the investigated compounds is observed a weak band around 1800 cm⁻¹, assigned to the stretching mode of free CO bond, whereas the medium band observed around 1600 cm⁻¹ is tentatively assigned to coordinated CO stretching mode. At last, a very important achievement of this investigation refers to the coordination geometries of all the investigated compounds, which are governed only by the ligands, independently of the different electronic properties of the metal ions.