Synthesis,spectral and thermal studies of monomeric,homobimetallic and polymeric complexes containing benzoyldithiocarbazate

New mixed ligand complexes of benzoyldithiocarbazate (H₂BDT) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, spectral studies (i.r., u.v.–vis., mass), thermal analysis and electrical conductivity measurements. The complexes have the general formulae: [M₂(BDT)(OX)₂] · xH₂O; [Co₂(BDT)(OX)₂(H₂O)₄]; [M(HBDT)(OX)-(H₂O)], [Ni(BDT)(py)₂]_n and [Ni(BDT)(L)]_n where M = Mn^II, Ni^II and Cu^II; BDT = dithiocarbazate dianion; OX = 8-hydroxyquinolinate; x = 1 or 2; M = Zn^II or Cd^II; HBDT = dithiocarbazate anion and L = 2,2-bipyridyl or 1,10-o-phenanthroline. For the [M₂(BDT)(OX)₂] · xH₂O, [Co₂(BDT)(OX)₂(H₂O)₄], [Ni(BDT)(py)₂]_n and [Ni(BDT)(L)]_n complexes, benzoyldithiocarbazate acts as a dibasic-tetradentate ligand in the enol form via the enolic oxygen, the hydrazide nitrogens and the thiolate sulphur, while it acts as a monobasic-tridentate ligand in the keto form in the [M(HBDT)(OX)(H₂O)] complexes. The thermal behaviour of the complexes has been studied by t.g.–d.t.g. techniques. Kinetic parameters of the thermal decomposition process have been computed by Coats–Redfern and Horowitz–Metzger methods. It is obvious that the thermal decomposition in the complexes occurs directly at the metal–ligand bonds except for the Zn^II and Cd^II complexes in which decomposition seems to be at a point in the benzoyldithiocarbazate moiety. From the calculated kinetic data it can be concluded that the dehydration processes in all complexes have been described as phase-boundary controlled reactions. The activation energy values reveal that the thermal stabilities of the homobimetallic complexes lie in the order: Mn^II < Ni^II < Co^II, while the monomeric Cd^II complex has more enhanced thermal stability than the Zn^II complex.