The study of new zinc(II) aliphatic carboxylate complex compounds by methods of thermal analysis

Four new complex compounds were prepared by the reaction of zinc bromobutyrate and organic ligands. The general formula of the synthetized complex compounds are (2-Brbut)₂ZnL and (4-Brbut)₂ZnL₂nH₂O (but=butyrate, L=theobromine (tbr), theophylline (tph), methyl-3-pyridyl carbamate (mpc), n=0-1). The compounds were characterized by chemical analysis and IR spectroscopy. The thermal behaviour of the zinc(II) complexes was studied by thermal analysis. Thermal decomposition in the case of hydrated compounds starts with the release of water molecules. Then molecules of organic ligands and the bromobutyrate anion are released and decomposed. CH₃CH₂CH=O, CO, CH₂=CHCH=O, CH₂O and ZnBr₂ were found as gaseous products of thermal decomposition during heating up to 700°C. IR, mass spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction and chemical analysis were used for the determination of solid and gaseous intermediates and products of the thermal decomposition.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.