Versatility in the coordination behavior of a hexatopic compartmental Schiff-base ligand in the architecture of binuclear transition metal(II) complexes

Condensation of 1H-pyrazole-3,5-dicarboxylic hydrazide with 1H-indole-2,3-dione (isatin) yield the compartmental ligand, which is capable of encapsulating two transition metal ions namely CoII, NiII, CuII, and ZnII. The ligand is a binuclear hexadentate chelate with N4O2 donating sites. The pyrazole core provides the diazine fragment, which serves as an endogenous bridge between the two metal centers. In CoII and NiII complexes, the ligand is in the imidol form and the subsequent coordination through the imidol oxygen. In other complexes, the lactonic oxygen takes part in ligation. All the complexes are non-electrolytes and soluble in DMSO, DMF, and acetonitrile. Spectral and magnetic studies along with analytical data suggest octahedral geometry for the CoII and NiII complexes, whereas the CuII and ZnII complexes are assigned square pyramidal geometry. The CuII and NiII complexes show one electron redox behavior and the rest are electrochemically inactive.