Self-assembly of novel discrete binuclear molecular box structure from a novel bis-N,O-bidentate Schiff-base ligand and ZnII, CoII salts

Two new isostructural binuclear complexes of Zn(II) and Co(II) with a bis-N,O-bidentate Schiff-base ligand, 2,5-bis(N-salicylidene-3-aminophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (L), have been synthesized and characterized. In each complex, the L ligands adopt two different conformations (Cisoid-I (close) and Cisoid-II (open)), respectively, to incorporate with the metal centers to form a box-like structure.