Synthesis and characterization of the dihydrosalpren ligand (H2L1) and of its trinuclear Ni(II) complex

The synthesis of the new unsymmetrical tetradendate Schiff ligand N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)-N′-(2-hydroxybenzylidene)-1,3-diaminopropane (H₂L¹) is reported. The ligand comprises two different coordination moieties: a rigid salicylaldimmine unit and a more flexible (2-hydroxybenzyl)-amino (hydrogenated salicylaldimmine) unit. The reaction of H₂L¹ with Ni(OAc)₂·4H₂O (1:1 molar ratio) leads to the spontaneous formation of a trinuclear complex with composition {Ni(L¹)OH₂]₂(OAc)₂Ni}·2H₂O, characterized by X-ray crystallography, where two Ni(L¹)] units act as O,O-bidentate chelate to a Ni(II) ion.