Synthesis, characterization, and crystal structure of LnIII – (1E,2E)-3-(furan-2-yl)-N-(4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)prop-2-en-1-imine

Abstract

New neodymium (1a) and samarium (1 b) complexes with the general formula [LnIII(NO3)3(H2O)3 L]·L (1) were synthesized based on the previously reported ligand L (L = (1E,2E)-3-(furan-2-yl)-N-(4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)prop-2-en-1-imine) which were investigated by X-ray analysis. Through X-ray studies, it was shown that the Schiff base L coordinates to LnIII via κN-bonding of one of the triazole ring nitrogen atoms as a monodentate ligand, three κ2 OO′-bonded nitrate ions and three κO-bonded water molecules completing the coordination sphere around the LnIII ion, resulting in a tenfold-coordinated LnNO9 unit in a distorted bicapped square antiprismatic geometry. The mononuclear complex units [Ln(NO3)3(H2O)3·L] are linked to the L molecule through intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions to form a 2 D polymeric supramolecular architecture. The complexes are neutral and paramagnetic mononuclear complexes, as determined by conductivity and magnetic investigations at room temperature, as well as findings from FT-IR and UV–vis spectroscopy. Finally, thermogravimetric measurements confirm the presence of three water molecules in the coordination sphere. In the visible region, the spectrum of the complex shows typical parity forbidden narrow 4f–4f absorptions originating from the 4 I 9/2 ground state to the various excited states of NdIII.