Mononuclear nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes with Schiff base ligands derived from 2,6-diformyl-4-methylphenol and S-methylisothiosemicarbazones

Four new square-planar Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes with [N2O2] binding system were synthesized by metal-directed condensation of 2,6-diformyl-4-methylphenol with benzoyl or acetylacetone mono-S-methylisothiosemicarbazone. Only mononuclear "one-armed" complexes were obtained as a consequence of the different reactivity of the two carbonyl groups in the hydroxydialdehyde. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, EI MS and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The structural assignment was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis and NMR spectroscopy, for the Ni(II) complexes, and by ESR spectroscopy and magnetic measurements, for the Cu(II) complexes.