Mononuclear and dinuclear complexes derived from new potentially heptadentate acyclic Schiff bases

New potentially heptadentate compartmental ligands have been prepared by reaction of o-acetoacetylphenol or 3-formylsalycilic acid with diethylenetriamine or bis-3-aminopropyl-phenylphosphine.These Schiff bases contain an inner O₂N₂X (X = N, P) and an outer O₂O₂ coordination site which can bond, in close proximity, two similar or dissimilar metal ions.With some metal salts (nickel(II), copper(II) and uranyl(VI) acetates) mononuclear, homo- and heterodinuclear complexes have been synthesized. The spectroscopic, magnetic and electrochemical properties of these complexes have been studied. The catalytic activity of a binuclear copper(II) complex towards the oxidation of 3,5-di-t-butylcatechol to the corresponding quinone was also investigated.