Synthesis, crystal structures and fluorescence studies of three new Zn(II) complexes with multidentate Schiff base ligands

Three new zinc(II) complexes Zn(L-1)(2) (1), Zn2L2(OAc)(3) (2) and Zn2L3(OAc)(3) (3) have been synthesized by using Zn(OAc)(2)center dot 2H(2)O and potentially multidentate Schiff base ligands HL1 (2-((1-hydroxybutan-2-ylimino)methyl)-6-methoxyphenol), HL2 (2-((1-hydroxy-2-methyl-propan-2-ylimino)methyl)-6-methoxy phenol) and HL3 (2((2-hydroxypropylimino)-methyl)-6-methoxyphenol), respectively. These Schiff base ligands are the condensation product of o-vanillin and corresponding amino alcohols. All the three complexes 1, 2 and 3 have been characterized by elemental analysis. IR, single crystal X-ray diffraction and fluorescence studies. Structural studies reveal that 1 is a mononuclear complex whereas in dinuclear complexes 2 and 3 the two Zn(II) centers are held together by deprotonated Schiff base ligands and acetates. All the synthesized complexes display intraligand (pi ->pi) fluorescence and can potentially serve as photoactive materials. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.