Cd(II) and Cu(II) complexes of polydentate Schiff base ligands: synthesis, characterization, properties and biological activity

We report the synthesis of the Schiff base ligands, 4-[(4-bromo-phenylimino)-methyl]-benzene-1,2,3-triol (A₁), 4-[(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxy-phenylimino)-methyl]-benzene-1,2,3-triol (A₂), 3-(p-tolylimino-methyl)-benzene-1,2-diol (A₃), 3-[(4-bromo-phenylimino)-methyl]-benzene-1,2-diol (A₄), and 4-[(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxy-phenylimino)-methyl]-benzene-1,3-diol (A₅), and their Cd(II) and Cu(II) metal complexes, stability constants and potentiometric studies. The structure of the ligands and their complexes was investigated using elemental analysis, FT-IR, UV-Vis, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, mass spectra, magnetic susceptibility and conductance measurements. In the complexes, all the ligands behave as bidentate ligands, the oxygen in the ortho position and azomethine nitrogen atoms of the ligands coordinate to the metal ions. The keto-enol tautomeric forms of the Schiff base ligands A₁-A₅ have been investigated in polar and non-polar organic solvents. Antimicrobial activity of the ligands and metal complexes were tested using the disc diffusion method and the strains Bacillus megaterium and Candida tropicalis.Protonation constants of the triol and diol Schiff bases and stability constants of their Cu²⁺ and Cd²⁺ complexes were determined by potentiometric titration method in 50% DMSO-water media at 25.00 ± 0.02 °C under nitrogen atmosphere and ionic strength of 0.1 M sodium perchlorate. It has been observed that all the Schiff base ligands titrated here have two protonation constants. The variation of protonation constant of these compounds was interpreted on the basis of structural effects associated with the substituents. The divalent metal ions of Cu²⁺ and Cd²⁺ form stable 1:2 complexes with Schiff bases.The Schiff base complexes of cadmium inhibit the intense chemiluminescence reaction in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) solution between luminol and dioxygen in the presence of a strong base. This effect is significantly correlated with the stability constants K_CdL of the complexes and the protonation constants K_OH of the ligands; it also has a nonsignificant association with antibacterial activity.     

Synthesis, crystal structures and magnetic characterization of heterodinuclear CuGd and CuTb Schiff base complexes

Preparation, crystal structures and magnetic properties of new heterodinuclear Cu^IIGd^III (1) and Cu^IITb^III (2) complexes [CuLn(L)(NO₃)₂(H₂O)₃MeOH]NO₃·MeOH (where Ln = Gd, Tb) with the hexadentate Schiff-base compartmental ligand N,N′-bis(5-bromo-3-methoxysalicylidene)propylene-1,3-diamine (H₂L = C₁₉H₂₀N₂O₄Br₂) (0) have been described. Crystal structure analysis of 1 and 2 revealed that they are isostructural and form discrete dinuclear units with dihedral angle between the O1Cu1O2 and O1Gd1/Tb1O2 planes equal to 2.5(1)° and 2.6(1)°, respectively. The variable-temperature and variable-field magnetic measurements indicate that the metal centers in 1 and 2 are ferromagnetically coupled (J = 7.89 cm⁻¹ for 1). Crystal and molecular structure of the Schiff base ligand (0) has been also reported. The complex formation changes the conformation of Schiff base ligand molecule.     

Synthesis, spectroscopy, electrochemistry and thermal study of vanadyl unsymmetrical Schiff base complexes

The new tetradentate unsymmetrical N₂O₂ Schiff base ligands and VO(IV) complexes were synthesised and characterized by using IR, UV-Vis and elemental analysis. The electrochemical properties of the vanadyl complexes were investigated by means of cyclic voltammetry. The oxidation potentials are increased by increasing the electron-withdrawing properties of functional groups of the Schiff base ligands according to the trend of MeO < H < Br < NO₂. The thermogravimetry (TG) and differential thermoanalysis (DTA) of the VO(IV) complexes were carried out in the range of 20-700 °C. The complexes were decomposed in two stages. Also decomposition of synthesised complexes is related to the Schiff base characteristics. The thermal decomposition of the studied reactions was first order.     

Synthesis, structures, photoluminescent and electroluminescent properties of boron complexes with anilido-imine ligands

Syntheses of three new N-arylanilido-arylimine bidentate Schiff base type ligand precursors, ortho-C₆H₄[NH(2,6-ⁱPr₂C₆H₃)](CHNAr¹) [Ar¹ = p-FC₆H₄ (2a); C₆H₅ (2b); p-OMeC₆H₄ (2c)], and their four-coordinated boron complexes, ortho-C₆H₄[N(2,6-ⁱPr₂C₆H₃)](CHNAr¹)BF₂ [Ar¹ = p-FC₆H₄ (3a); C₆H₅ (3b); p-OMeC₆H₄ (3c)] are described. The boron complexes 3a-3c were synthesized from the reaction of BF₃(OEt₂) with the lithium salt of their corresponding ligand. All complexes were characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and molecular structures of complexes 3a and 3c were determined by X-ray crystallography. The photophysical properties of complexes 3a-3c were briefly examined. All three complexes display bright green fluorescence in solution and in the solid state. Electroluminescent devices with complex 3c as the emitter were fabricated. These devices were found to give green emission with maximum current efficiency of 2.92 cd/A and maximum luminance of 670 cd/m².     

Synthesis, structures, spectral and electrochemical properties of copper(II) complexes of sterically hindered Schiff base ligands

The Schiff base ligands 2-(2,6-diisopropylphenyliminomethyl)phenol H(L1), 5-diethylamino-2-(2,6-diisopropylphenyliminomethyl)phenol H(L2), 2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-(2,6-diisopropylphenyliminomethyl)phenol H(L3), 3-(2,6-diisopropylphenyliminomethyl)naphthalen-2-ol H(L4) and 4-(2,6-diisopropylphenyliminomethyl)-5-hydroxymethyl-2-methylpyridin-3-ol H(L5) have been synthesized by the condensation, respectively, of salicylaldehyde, 4-(diethylamino)salicylaldehyde, 3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylaldehyde, 2-hydroxy-1-napthaldehyde and pyridoxal with 2,6-diisopropylaniline. The copper(II) bis-ligand complexes [Cu(L1)₂] 1, [Cu(L2)₂] 2, [Cu(L3)₂] 3, [Cu(L4)₂] 4 and [Cu(L5)₂] · CH₃OH 5 of these ligands have been isolated and characterized. The X-ray crystal structures of two of the complexes [Cu(L1)₂] 1 and [Cu(L5)₂] · CH₃OH 5 have been successfully determined, and the centrosymmetric complexes possess a CuN₂O₂ chromophore with square planar coordination geometry. The frozen solution EPR spectra of the complexes reveal a square-based CuN₂O₂ chromophore, and the values of g_‖ and g_‖/A_‖ index reveal enhanced electron delocalization by incorporating the strongly electron-releasing -NEt₂ group (2) and fusing a benzene ring on sal-ring (4). The Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox potentials of the Cu(II) complexes reveal that the incorporation of electron-releasing -NEt₂ group and fusion of a benzene ring lead to enhanced stabilization of Cu(II) oxidation state supporting the EPR spectral results. The hydrogen bonding interactions between the two molecules present in the unit cell of 5a generate an interesting two-dimensional hydrogen-bonded network topology.     

Luminescence properties of cyclopalladated complexes with Schiff base ligands

Direct reaction between the hydroxo-complexes [{Pd(μ-OH)(C^N)}₂] (C^N = 2-(2-pyridyl)phenyl (Phpy) I; C^N = 7,8-benzoquinolyl (Bzq) II) and N-naphtylsalycilaldimine (N-naphsal) 1 yields new mononuclear cyclometallated palladium(II) complexes [Pd(N-naphsal)(C^N)] (I1, II1). Photophysical properties were investigated together with those of complexes with related ligands N-phenylsalycilaldiminate (N-Phsal) 2, N-p-chlorophenylsalycilaldiminate (N-pClPhsal) 3. All the compounds absorb intensely below 300 nm via¹LC transitions located in Bzq or Phpy ligands, and display additional low energy absorptions of mixed ¹MLCT-¹LC character. The complexes under study are quite unusual in terms of luminescence behavior, since some of them are emissive in solution at room temperature and all display intense emissions in frozen CHCl₃ solution, but also in solid state at 298 and 77 K. Structural characterization by X-ray diffraction of complexes I2, I3 and II2 confirmed the proposed formulae.     

Oxo-bridged bis oxo-vanadium(V) complexes with tridentate Schiff base ligands (VOL)2O (L = SAE, SAMP, SAP): Synthesis, structure and epoxidation catalysis under solvent-free conditions

The dinuclear V(V) complexes (VOL)₂O (L = SAE (1), SAMP (2), SAP (3)) have been synthesized from VO(acac)₂ and the corresponding tridentate ligands LH₂ in methanol under reflux conditions and subsequent air oxidation in organic solvent. They have been characterized by IR and NMR spectroscopy, by thermogravimetric analysis, and by single crystal X-ray diffraction for 1 and 2. DFT calculations were carried out for a better understanding of the vibrational pattern, principally the V-O related vibrations. Complex [VO(SAP)]₂O (3) catalyzes the epoxidation of cyclooctene by TBHP in water in the absence of any added solvent with good selectivity.     

Synthesis, characterization and X-ray crystal structures of copper(II) and nickel(II) complexes with potentially hexadentate Schiff base ligands

Copper(II) and nickel(II) complexes of potentially N₂O₄ Schiff base ligands 2-({[2-(2-{2-[(1-{2-hydroxy-5-[2-phenyl-1-diazenyl]phenyl}methylidene)amino] phenoxy}ethoxy) phenyl]imino}methyl)4-[2-phenyl-1-diazenyl]phenol (H₂L¹) and 2-({[2-(4-{2-[(1-{2-hydroxy-5-[2-phenyl-1-diazenyl]phenyl}methylidene)amino] phenoxy}butoxy) phenyl]imino}methyl)4-[2-phenyl-1-diazenyl]phenol (H₂L²) prepared of 5-phenylazo salicylaldehyde (1) and two various diamines 2-[2-(2-aminophenoxy)ethoxy]aniline (2) and 2-[4-(2-aminophenoxy)butoxy]aniline (3) were synthesized and characterized by a variety of physico-chemical techniques. The single-crystal X-ray diffractions are reported for CuL¹ and NiL². The CuL¹ complex contains copper(II) in a near square-planar environment of N₂O₂ donors. The NiL² complex contains nickel(II) in a distorted octahedral geometry coordination of N₂O₄ donors. In all complexes, H₂L¹ behaves as a tetradentate and H₂L² acts as a hexadentate ligand. Cyclic voltammetry of copper(II) complexes indicate a quasi-reversible redox wave in the negative potential range.     

Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of the Schiff base from chitosan and citral

Chitosan, a biocompatible, biodegradable, non-toxic polymer, is prepared from chitin, which is the second most naturally occurring biopolymer after cellulose. The Schiff base of chitosan was synthesized by the reaction of chitosan with citral working under high-intensity ultrasound. The effect of the molar ratio of chitosan to citral, reaction time, and temperature on the yield has been investigated. The optimal conditions were a temperature of 50 °C, a molar ratio of chitosan to citral of 1:6, and a reaction time of 10 h. The maximum yield achieved was 86.4% under optimum conditions. The structure of the Schiff base was characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and X-ray diffraction studies. The strong peaks at 1648.3 and 1610.6 cm⁻¹ are due to CN and CC stretching vibrations. The results confirmed that amino groups on chitosan reacted with citral to form the Schiff base. The antimicrobial activities of chitosan and Schiff base of chitosan were investigated against Escherichia coil, Staphylococcus aureus, and Aspergillus niger. The results indicate that the antimicrobial activity of the Schiff base increases with an increase in the concentration. It was also found that the antimicrobial activity of the Schiff base was stronger than that of chitosan.     

Antiferromagnetic interactions through phenoxo bridges and lattice water: Synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties of new Mn(III) Schiff base complexes in combination with thiocyanate ligand

The Schiff base ligands, N,N′-bis(2-hydroxyacetophenone)-1,2-diaminoethane (acphenH₂) and N,N′-bis(2-hydroxyacetophenone)-1,3-diaminopropane (acphpnH₂), prepared in situ were used to synthesise two new Mn(III) complexes which were characterised by crystallography and variable temperature magnetic measurements. [Mn(acphen)NCS]₂ is a phenoxo-bridged dimeric compound with the thiocyanate coordinating in the usual bent mode (Mn-N-C angle, 152°) and is weakly antiferromagnetic. Since there are no significant inter-dimer contacts in the crystal, the low temperature magnetic behaviour is influenced by single ion zero-field splitting. Exact diagonalisation of the spin Hamiltonian was performed to derive the following parameters: J = −0.7 cm⁻¹, D = −0.6 cm⁻¹. Mn(acphpn)(H₂O)NCS is monomeric with an unusual linearly coordinated thiocyanate (Mn-N-C angle, 178°). Two lattice water molecules link the Mn(III) complex molecules through hydrogen bonds to form one-dimensional chains in the crystal. Magnetic exchange along the chain makes this compound also weakly antiferromagnetic with J ∼ -2 cm⁻¹.     

Synthesis,characterization, biological and catalytic applications of transition metal complexes derived from Schiff base

A novel series of Cu(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Co(II), and Cd(II) complexes have been synthesized from the Schiff base. Structural features were determined by analytical and spectral techniques like IR, ¹H NMR, UV–vis, elemental analysis, molar electric conductibility, magnetic susceptibility and thermal studies. The complexes are found to be soluble in dimethylformamide and dimethylsulfoxide. Molar conductance values in dimethylformamide indicate the non-electrolytic nature of the complexes. Binding of synthesized complexes with calf thymus DNA (CT DNA) was studied. There is significant binding of DNA in lanes 2, 3, and 5. Lanes 4 and 6 are showing more florescence when compared to the control indicating that these molecules are strongly bound to the DNA by inserting themselves between the two stacked base pairs and exhibiting their original property of fluorescence. Angiogenesis study has revealed that the compounds B-2, B-4 and B-5 have potent antitumor efficacy and activation of antiangiogenesis could be one of the possible underlying mechanisms of tumor inhibition.     

Synthesis characterization and cytotoxicity studies of platinum(II) complexes with reduced amino pyridine schiff base and its derivatives as ligands

A series of reduced amino pyridine Schiff base platinum(II) complexes were prepared as potential anticancer drugs, and characterized by NMR, IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and molar conductivity. UV and CD results showed the binding mode between these compounds and salmon sperm DNA may be intercalation. The cytotoxicity of these complexes was validated against A549, Hela, and MCF-7 cell lines by MTT assay. Some complexes exhibited better cytotoxic activity than cisplatin against Hela and MCF-7 cell lines.     

Structure, photophysics, electrochemistry, DFT calculation, and in-vitro antioxidant activity of coumarin Schiff base complexes of Group 6 metal carbonyls

N-[(2-Pyridyl)methyliden]-6-coumarin (L) is synthesized by the condensation of 6-aminocoumarin and pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde. Group-6 tetracarbonyl complexes, [M(CO)₄(L)] (M = Cr, Mo, and W) are synthesized and characterized by mass spectrometry and NMR, FT-IR and UV-visible spectroscopy. X-ray crystal structure of [Cr(CO)₄(L)] shows N(pyridine), N(imine) chelation to chromium(0). A supramolecular chain is formed by C-H?O and π?π interactions. The ligand and the complexes are fluorescent. Cyclic voltammetry of the complexes exhibit quasireversible M(I)/M(0) redox couple. The complexes exhibit potential antioxidant property both in cell free and in-vitro studies and highest activity is observed to [W(CO)₄(L)]. Density functional theory (DFT) computation has been performed to correlate with the electronic configuration, composition of wave functions with the UV-visible spectra and redox properties.     

Synthesis and characterization of nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes with tetradentate Schiff base ligands

The 1:1 condensation of 1,2-diaminopropane and 1-phenylbutane-1,3-dione at high dilution gives a mixture of two positional isomers of terdentate mono-condensed Schiff bases 6-amino-3-methyl-1-phenyl-4-aza-2-hepten-1-one (HAMPAH) and 6-amino-3,5-dimethyl-1-phenyl-4-aza-2-hexen-1-one (HADPAH). The mixture of the terdentate ligands has been used for further condensation with pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde or 2-acetylpyridine to obtain the unsymmetrical tetradentate Schiff base ligands. The tetradentate Schiff bases are then allowed to react with the methanol solution of copper(II) and nickel(II) perchlorate separately. The X-ray diffraction confirms the structures of two of the complexes and shows that the condensation site of the diamine with 1-phenylbutane-1,3-dione is the same.     

Cyclic and acyclic compartmental Schiff bases, their reduced analogues and related mononuclear and heterodinuclear complexes

[1+1] macrocyclic and [1+2] macroacyclic compartmental ligands (H₂L), containing one N₂O₂, N₃O₂, N₂O₃, N₄O₂ or O₂N₂O₂ Schiff base site and one O₂O_n (n=3, 4) crown-ether like site, have been prepared by self-condensation of the appropriate formyl- and amine precursors. The template procedure in the presence of sodium ion afforded Na₂(L) or Na(HL) · nH₂O. When reacted with the appropriate transition metal acetate hydrate, H₂L form M(L) · nH₂O, M(HL)(CH₃COO) · nH₂O, M(H₂L)(X)₂ · nH₂O (M=Cu²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺; X=CH₃COO⁻, Cl⁻) or Mn(L)(CH₃COO) · nH₂O according to the experimental conditions used. The same complexes have been prepared by condensation of the appropriate precursors in the presence of the desired metal ion. The Schiff bases H₂L have been reduced by NaBH₄ to the related polyamine derivatives H₂R, which form, when reacted with the appropriate metal ions, M(H₂R)(X)₂ (M= Co²⁺, Ni²⁺; X=CH₃COO⁻, Cl⁻), Cu(R) · nH₂O and Mn(R)(CH₃COO) · nH₂O. The prepared ligands and related complexes have been characterized by IR, NMR and mass spectrometry. The [1+1] cyclic nature of the macrocyclic polyamine systems and the site occupancy of sodium ion have been ascertained, at least for the sodium (I) complex with the macrocyclic ligand containing one N₃O₂ Schiff base and one O₂O₃ crown-ether like coordination chamber, by an X-ray structural determination. In this complex the asymmetric unit consists of one cyclic molecule of the ligand coordinated to a sodium ion by the five oxygen atoms of the ligand. The coordination geometry of the sodium ion can be described as a pentagonal pyramid with the metal ion occupying the vertex. In the mononuclear complexes with H₂L or H₂R the transition metal ion invariantly occupies the Schiff base site; the sodium ion, on the contrary, prefers the crown-ether like site. Accordingly, the heterodinuclear complexes [MNa(L)(CH₃COO)_x] (M=Cu²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni², x=1; M=Mn³⁺, x=2) have been synthesised by reacting the appropriate formyl and amine precursors in the presence of M(CH₃COO)_n · nH₂O and NaOH in a 1:1:1:2 molar ratio. The reaction of the mononuclear transition metal complexes with Na(CH₃COO) · nH₂O gives rise to the same heterodinuclear complexes. Similarly [MNa(R)(CH₃COO)_x] have been prepared by reaction of the appropriate polyamine ligand H₂R with the desired metal acetate hydrate and NaOH in 1:1:2 molar ratio.     

Synthesis and characterization of organotin Schiff base chelates

The synthesis and characterization of five organotin compounds containing Salophen(^tBu) [Salophen(^tBu)=N,N′-phenylene-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylideneimine)], Salomphen(^tBu) [Salomphen(^tBu)=N,N′-(4,5-dimethyl)phenylene-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylideneimine)] and Phensal(^tBu) [Phensal(^tBu)=3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene(1-aminophenylene-2-amine)] ligands is described. These compounds include the monomeric complexes LSnCl₂ (where L=Salophen(^tBu), L=Salomphen(^tBu)), L(ⁿBu)SnCl (where L=Salophen(^tBu), Salomphen(^tBu)), L(ⁿBu)SnCl₂ (where L=Phensal(^tBu)). Spectroscopic techniques including ¹¹⁹Sn NMR and X-ray crystallography were used in the characterization of the compounds.     

Synthesis and characterization of di- and tri-organotin(IV) complexes with Schiff base ligand pyruvic acid 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoyl hydrazone

A series of organotin(IV) complexes with Schiff base ligand pyruvic acid 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoyl hydrazone [R₂SnLY]₂, L = 3-HO-C₁₀H₆-2-CONHNC(CH₃)COOH, R = n-C₄H₉, Y = CH₃OH (1), R = n-C₄H₉, Y = N (2), R = PhCH₂ (3), R = Ph, Y = CH₃OH (4), R = Me, (5) and [R₃SnLY], L = 3-HO-C₁₀H₆-2-CONHNC(CH₃)COOH, R = n-C₄H₉, Y = H₂O, (6), R = Ph (7), R = Me (8) have been synthesized. These complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR spectra. The crystal and molecular structure of complexes 1, 2 and 6 have been determined by X-ray single crystal diffraction. Results showed that complex 1 has a dimeric structure and the central tin atom is rendered seven-coordinate in a distorted pentagonal-bipyramid configuration. The complex 2 has a monoclinic structure and the central tin atom is rendered six-coordinate in octahedrally configuration with a planar of SnO₃N unit and two apical aryl C atoms. And the whole structure consists of molecular units connected by weak intermolecular Sn?N and O-H?N interactions. In the complex 6, the central tin atom is five-coordinate in distorted trigonal-bipyramidal geometry.     

Synthesis, characterization and antiproliferative activity of metal complexes with the Schiff base derived from the condensation 1:2 of 2,6-diformyl-4-methylphenol and 5,6-diamino-1,3-dimethyluracil

A series of mononuclear complexes with Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Hg(II), Mo(VI) and Pd(II) containing the ligand derived from the 1:2 condensation of 2,6-diformyl-4-methylphenol and 5,6-diamino-1,3-dimethyluracil (hereafter denoted as BDFDAAU) were synthesized. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), IR, (1)H, (13)C and (15)N NMR, UV-visible-near IR (UV-VIS-NIR), EPR and magnetic measurements. The deprotonated ligand in the phenolic oxygen shows a symmetric tridentate coordination mode through the two azomethine nitrogen atoms and the phenolic oxygen atom whereas the coordination of the neutral ligand takes place through the phenolic oxygen atom and one azomethine nitrogen atom. In the Mo(VI) complex, the ligand is bideprotonated in the phenolic oxygen and an amino group from one uracil unit; so, the coordination mode changes again into an asymmetric way: phenolic oxygen atom, one azomethine nitrogen atom and the nitrogen atom from the deprotonated amino group. The antiproliferative behaviour against the five human tumor cell lines (human neuroblastoma NB69, human breast cancer MCF-7 and EVSA-T, human glioma H4 and human bladder carcinoma cell line ECV) suggested a modulator behaviour, according to the concentration, of cell growth due to their estrogen-like characteristics.     

Synthesis, characterization and crystal structures of nickel complexes with dissymmetric tetradentate ligands containing a mixed-donor sphere

Four new nickel(II) complexes of dissymmetric tetradentate ligands, containing mixed-ligand donor sets of NSNS or NSNO, have been synthesized. These complexes were prepared by facile template reactions of the appropriate aldehyde and amine in the presence of [Ni(H₂O)₆](BF₄)₂, resulting directly in the desired nickel compounds. The nickel compounds were characterized by analytical, spectroscopic and electrochemical methods. The structures of [Ni(pyzs)]BF₄, [Ni(pyrs)]BF₄ and [Ni(pyzo)]BF₄ (see Scheme 1) have been determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography, showing the geometry of the nickel ion to be square-planar. Vis–NIR spectra show that the phenolate-containing complexes [Ni(pyzo)]BF₄ and [Ni(pyro)]BF₄ (see Scheme 1) are essentially square-planar in nitromethane, but tetragonal octahedral in methanol, whereas the thiophenolate-containing compounds [Ni(pyzs)]BF₄ and [Ni(pyrs)]BF₄ remain square-planar in both solvents. Titration of the thiophenolate-containing complexes with 1-methylimidazole results in diamagnetic five-coordinated complexes. Electrochemistry shows quasi-reversible reductions to Ni(I) to occur for [Ni(pyzo)]BF₄, [Ni(pyrs)]BF₄ and [Ni(pyro)]BF₄.     

Peculiar reversed-phase HPLC behaviour of cationic alkylcobalt(III) complexes holding a tridentate Schiff base ligand

Reversed-phase (RP) chromatographic behaviour of a series of acid-sensitive cationic alkylcobalt(III) chelates with both [N₂O] Schiff base and ethylenediamine has been studied. Their retention times depend on the water content of the mixed eluents in an unusual parabolic manner, which is ascribed to the biphylic nature of the structures in question. Optimal conditions for RP HPLC quantitative analysis of these rather labile organocobalt complexes have been developed. Their decomposition in solutions under ambient conditions has been surveyed using this technique.