Synthesis, characterization, and crystal structure of two zinc(II) halide complexes with the symmetrical bidentate Schiff-base ligand (3,4-MeO-ba)2en

Abstract

In this study two zinc(II) halide complexes with the Schiff-base ligand (3,4-MeO-ba)2en [N,N′-bis(3,4-dimethoxybenzylidene)ethane-1,2-diamine] have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses (CHN), single-crystal X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The metal-to-ligand ratio was found to be 1:1 within the formula ZnX2((3,4-MeO-ba)2en) (X = Br, I). Crystal structure analysis reveals that the coordination geometry around the zinc(II) ions in the two isotypic complexes is distorted tetrahedral. The Schiff-base ligand (3,4-MeO-ba)2en acts as a chelating ligand and coordinates via two N atoms to the metal center and adopts an (E,E) conformation. The coordination spheres of the metal atoms are completed by the two halide atoms, which are also involved in weak non-classical hydrogen-bonding interactions of the type C–H···X–Zn.