New helical complexes with a bis(bidentate) schiff base ligand containing a flexible spacer

Abstract

Neutral complexes with the general empirical formula M(PTs) [M: Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, and Cd; H2PTs: N,N'-bis(2-tosylaminobenzylidene)-1,3-diaminopropane] were obtained by means of an electrochemical procedure. All complexes were characterised by elemental analyses, mass spectro-metry, IR and1H NMR spectroscopy, and magnetic measurements, where appropriate. Recrystallisation of the cobalt, copper, and zinc complexes yielded single crystals of [Co(PTs)] (1), [Cu(PTs)]·1.5CH3 CN (2) and [Zn(PTs)]2·1.5H2O·CH3CN (3). Their X-ray characterisation shows that 1 and 2 are mononuclear tetrahedral single-stranded helical complexes in the solid state, while 3 is a double-helical compound containing a major and a minor groove, with the Schiff base acting as a bis(bidentate) N4 donor.