Bridging chlorides and hydroxides: syntheses and crystal structures of binuclear and tetranuclear Ni^II complexes derived from a reduced Schiff-base ligand 2-(2-pyridylmethylamino)ethanesulfonic acid

Abstract

Two complexes, [Ni(pmt)(Cl)] (1) and [Ni₄(pmt)₄(OH)₄]·8H₂O (2) [Hpmt = 2-(2-pyridylmethylamino)ethanesulfonic acid], were synthesized by different experimental methods in methanol-water mixed solution. Compound 1 crystallizes in triclinic, space group P−1 with unit cell parameters: a = 8.315(2) Å, b = 8.383(2) Å, c = 9.128(2) Å, α = 103.654(2)°, β = 98.125(2)°, γ = 113.154(2)°, V = 548.6(2) ų, Z = 2. A pair of chlorides is μ ₂-bridges linking two Ni^II atoms in forming binuclear complex 1. The coordination environment at Ni^II is distorted square-pyramidal geometry. Compound (2) belongs to monoclinic, space group C2/c, with a = 16.5168(15) Å, b = 18.3718(17) Å, c = 17.5473(16) Å, α = γ = 90°, β = 93.3820(10)°, V = 5315.3(8) ų, Z = 4. Four hydroxides are μ ₃-bridges joining four Ni^II atoms to generate a cubic framework as a tetranuclear complex. The configuration at each Ni^II is distorted octahedral. Both π–π stacking of pyridine rings and intermolecular hydrogen bonds stabilize the solid state structures for 1 and 2.

Keywords:

• Nickel(II)complexes
• Binuclear
• Tetranuclear
• 2-(2-pyridylmethylamino)ethanesulfonic acid
• Crystal structure

Acknowledgements

This work was funded by Guangxi Science Foundation (grant No.0731053) of the People's Republic of China. We also thank Luoyang Normal College and Nankai University for supporting this study.