Synthesis, characterization and electrochemical investigation of a novel vic-dioxime ligand and its some transition metal complexes

4-(Chloroacetyl)diphenyl ether was synthesized from chloroacetyl chloride and diphenyl ether in the presence of AlCl3 as catalyst in a Friedel-Crafts reaction. Then, its keto oxime and dioxime derivatives were prepared. 4-phenoxy-(N-4-chlorophenylamino)phenylglyoxime (H2L) was synthesized from 4-(phenoxy)chlorophenylglyoxime and 4-chloroaniline. Ni(II), Co(II) and Cu(II) complexes of H2L were obtained. The mononuclear Ni(II), Co(II) and Cu(II) complexes of H2L have a metal–ligand ratio of 1:2 and the ligand coordinates through the two N atoms, as do most of the vic-dioximes. The structure of the ligand was identified by FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, 13C NMR (APT) spectroscopy and elemental analysis data. The structures of the complexes were characterized on the basis of FT-IR, ICP-AES, UV-Vis, elemental analysis, magnetic susceptibility measurements, and cyclic voltammetry. The electrochemical measurements were obtained by using cyclic voltammetry in DMF solution at room temperature. The electrochemical behaviors of H2L and its complexes showed that the redox process of H2L has one irreversible oxidation wave, whereas the redox processes of the complexes have both oxidation and reduction waves with metal centered.