Synthesis, structure, and properties of a tetranuclear cubane-like nickel(II) complex with tridentate Schiff base ligand

A new tetranuclear cubane-like complex, [Ni-4(L)(4)(EtOH)(4)]center dot(H2O), has been synthesized from the reaction of simple metal salt with tridentate Schiff base ligand derived from salicylidene-2-aminobenzoic alcohol (H2L), and its crystal structure, spectroscopic and electrochemical properties have been studied. The complex possessed a [Ni4O4] core comprising a distorted cubane arrangement, of which four nickel(II) ions were bridged by mu(3)-alkoxo group. Each nickel(II) ion was coordinated to three mu(3)-alkox oxygen atoms, one imine nitrogen atom and one phenolic oxygen atom from Schiff base ligand. The peripheral ligation was completed by four terminal EtOH ligands, which participated in intramolecular hydrogen bonding interactions.