Synthesis, characterization and X-ray crystal structures of trinuclear zinc(II) and cadmium(II) complexes derived from an oxovanadium(IV) complex ligand

•Two trinuclear complexes were synthesized based on an oxovanadium complex ligand VOL.•The crystal structures and spectroscopic properties were investigated.•Complex 1 exhibits antiferromagnetic interactions between the paramagnetic ions.

By using a macrocyclic oxovanadium(IV) complex ligand VOL (H2L = 2,3-dioxo-5,6:13,14-dibenzo-7,12-diphenyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclo-tetradeca-7,12-diene) as precursor, two new trinuclear complexes [(VOL)2Zn(CH3OH)2](ClO4)2·5CH3OH (1) and [(VOL)2Cd(CH3OH)2](ClO4)2·3CH3OH·1.82H2O (2) have been synthesized. Their structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and further characterized by elemental analyses, FT-IR, UV–Vis spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and thermogravimetric analyses (TGA). In the two complexes, the central zinc(II) and cadmium(II) ions are connected with two VOL fragments via exo-cis oxamido bridge. Magnetic susceptibility studies (2–300 K) of complex 1 indicate the occurrence of weak antiferromagnetic coupling between the paramagnetic metals. The experimental data have been fitted according to Heisenberg Hamiltonian Ĥ=-2JŜ1Ŝ2, leading to J = −0.31 cm−1, g = 2.01.

Graphical abstractBy using a macrocyclic oxovanadium(IV) complex ligand VOL (H2L = 2,3-dioxo-5,6:13,14-dibenzo-7,12-diphenyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclo-tetradeca-7,12-diene) as precursor, two new trinuclear complexes [(VOL)2Zn(CH3OH)2](ClO4)2·5CH3OH (1) and [(VOL)2Cd(CH3OH)2](ClO4)2·3CH3OH·1.82H2O (2) have been synthesized and structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. Magnetic susceptibility studies indicate the occurrence of weak antiferromagnetic coupling between the paramagnetic metals in complex 1.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide