Synthesis and structure of a Schiff base and its bivalent transition metal complexes

Abstract

A Schiff base (HCSmz) was synthesized via (E)-cinnamaldehyde with S-methyl dithiocarbazate and six bivalent transition metal complexes [M(CSmz)₂] (M=Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Hg²⁺) were prepared. The complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, IR, ¹H NMR, and UV-Vis spectra, and the Ni(II) and Zn(II) complexes were also characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. After tautomerism of thiotone to thioenol and deprotonization of the thioenol, two ligands chelate the metal by two nitrogens of azomethine and two sulfurs of thioenol. Ni(CSmz)₂ crystallizes in the centrosymmetric space group P2₁ /n with a perfectly square planar trans-configuration with Ni located at the center of the square; crystal packing is stabilized by intra- and intermolecular C–H···S hydrogen bonds. Zn(CSmz)₂ is in the mirror-symmetric space group I4₁ /a in a distorted tetrahedral geometry with two equivalent Zn–N and Zn–S bonds; crystal packing is stabilized by intermolecular C–H···π hydrogen bonds.

Keywords:

• Schiff-base ligand
• (E)-cinnamaldehyde
• S-methyl dithiocarbazate
• Synthesis
• Complexes of transitional metal ions

Acknowledgments

We thank the National Nature Science Foundation of China (No. 20773106) and Yangzhou University (No. 2006XJJ03) for financial support of this work.