Syn–anti and anti–anti conformations of a diimine derived from p-xylylenediamine and its neutral CoII and ZnII dinuclear complexes

A symmetric diimine ligand containing a CH2PhCH2 bridging group (H2XyTs: N,N′-bis(2-tosylaminobenzylidene)-1,4-xylylenediamine) and its neutral CoII and ZnII dinuclear complexes have been prepared. Two different crystal structures of the free ligand, H2XyTs, and that corresponding to [Co2(XyTs)2], have been solved by X-ray diffraction methods. These revealed two different conformations (syn–anti and anti–anti) for H2XyTs and an infrequent rotational isomerism on the xylylene rings of its CoII dinuclear complex, where both ligands are syn–anti conformed. Characterisation of the compounds is completed with FT-IR, ESI-MS and 1H NMR spectroscopic techniques, when possible.

Graphical abstractA new diimine ligand with a p-xylylene spacer (syn–anti and anti–anti conformed) and its neutral CoII dinuclear complex (showing rotational isomerism) have been X-ray characterized.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide