A pair of new structurally similar mononuclear Schiff base copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes, [CuL2] · 2ClO4 (1) and [ZnL2(ClO4)2] (2) (L=2‐bromo‐4‐chloro‐6‐[(2‐isopropylaminoethylimino)methyl]phenol), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR and single crystal X‐ray diffraction. Each Cu atom in (1) is four‐coordinated by two phenolate O and two imine N atoms from two Schiff base ligands, forming a square‐planar coordination. Each Zn atom in (2) is six‐coordinated by two phenolate O and two imine N atoms from two Schiff base ligands, and by two O atoms from two perchlorate anions, forming an octahedral coordination. The different metal perchlorate salts used in the preparation of the complexes with the Schiff base ligand can result in the similar structures of the final products.
The project is sponsored by the Scientific Research Foundation for the Returned overseas chinese scholars, State Education Ministry (grant no. BZY 07002).