Copper(II), nickel(II), cobalt(II) and oxovanadium(IV) complexes of 1-(3-hydroxy-2-naphthyl)-5-(p-X-phenyl)pent-4-ene-1,3-diones

Abstract

Complexes of 1-(3-hydroxy-2-naphthyl)-5-(p-X-phenyl)pent-4-ene-1, 3-diones (HXNP) (X = H, Cl, Me or OMe) with divalent metal ions, having the formula M(HXNP)2 (M = Cu, Ni or Co) and M(HXNP)2 · nB (n = 0,2: B = H2O or Py), have been prepared and characterized by elemental analyses, i.r., electronic, 1H-n.m.r. and e.s.r. spectroscopies and by magnetic susceptibility measurements. Spectral assignments show the metal ions to be coordinated through both carbonyl oxygen atoms and the effect of conjugation of the ligand structure (dπ–π* interaction) is strong enough to stabilize the metal ligand bond. The observed hyperfine splitting constants and magnetic moments suggest that the copper complexes are monomers with a slightly distorted planar structure, having more covalent in plane σ-bonding. The magnetic and spectral properties of the dihydrates and dipyridinates of the cobalt and nickel complexes are commensurate with monomeric high-spin octahedral geometries; polymerization takes place on dehydration–depyridination of nickel(II) complexes. Oxovanadyl complexes of these β-diketones have also been prepared; the ligand-to-metal ratio is 2:1 with square pyramidal geometry. The e.s.r. spectra of the complexes show the presence of one unpaired electron in the dxy orbital and the hyperfine splitting constants are sensitive to a change in solvent. The effect of bases on the redox behaviour of copper(II) complexes owing to geometry change is discussed.