Coordination properties of N,N′-bis(5-methylsalicylidene)-2-hydroxy-1,3-propanediamine with d- and f-electron ions: crystal structure, stability in solution, spectroscopic and spectroelectrochemical studies

Template reaction between 5-methylsalicylaldehyde and 2-hydroxy-1,3-propanediamine in the presence of copper ion led to dinuclear and mononuclear copper(ii) complexes [Cu(2)L(CH(3)COO)(CH(3)OH)](CH(3)OH) (1) and [CuHL](CH(3)OH) (2), where H(3)L is N,N′-bis(5-methylsalicylidene)-2-hydroxy-1,3-propanediamine. The result of the reactions between 5-methylsalicylaldehyde and 2-hydroxy-1,3-propanediamine in the presence of lanthanide ions and/or copper(ii) ion was N,N′-bis(5-methylsalicylidene)-2-hydroxy-1,3-propanediamine (H(3)L B) or [CuHL](CH(3)OH) (2), respectively. Structures of the compounds were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and physicochemical methods. The microstructures and phase compositions of crystals were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In dinuclear complex [Cu(2)L(CH(3)COO)(CH(3)OH)](CH(3)OH) (1), two copper(ii) ions are bond to one H(3)L ligand and one acetate ion. Coordination modes of the two copper centers are different: the geometry of copper 1 is almost ideal square-planar, while that for copper 2 can be described as tetragonal pyramidal. In complex [CuHL](CH(3)OH) (2), the copper(ii) ion is four coordinated and the coordination, rather than square-planar, can be described as flattened tetrahedral. Formation of complexes between copper(ii) or lanthanide ions with N,N′-bis(5-methylsalicylidene)-2-hydroxy-1,3-propanediamine (H(3)L) was also studied in solution by pH potentiometry. It should be mentioned that the complexes of lanthanide ions exist only in solution. Additionally, the salen-type ligand H(3)L and its dinuclear and mononuclear copper(ii) complexes were studied by cyclic voltammetry, and their spectroelectrochemical properties were examined.