A combined experimental and theoretical approach for structural study on a new cinnamoyl derivative of 2-acetyl-1,3-indandione and its metal(II) complexes

Abstract

The synthesis, structure and spectral properties of a new cinnamoyl derivative of 2-acetyl-1,3-indandione (2AID), p-fluoro-cinnamoyl-1,3-indandione, LH and its metal(II) complexes with Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II), are described. In order to verify the molecular structure of the free ligand and its metal complexes, model geometries based on the spectroscopic data were optimized using quantum chemical methods. The experimental spectroscopic data (IR and NMR) of the ligand, LH, complemented by the calculated ones, show that it exists in the exocyclic enolic form in the gas phase, solution and solid state. Good quality single crystals of Cd(II) complex were obtained from a DMSO solution and were studied by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The data show bidentate coordination of the ligand and two DMSO molecules coordinated to the metal centre, thus forming a complex with octahedral geometry. On the contrary, the spectroscopic data on the amorphous samples indicate a square planar geometry of the Cu(II) complex and distorted octahedral geometry for Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes with two water molecules coordinated to the metal centre. The used quantum chemical method for structure optimization of the transition metal complexes, B3LYP/LANL2DZ, shows very good agreement with the crystallographic data and, therefore, was also employed for structural determination for the non-crystalline complexes.