Nickel(II) derivatives of N-benzyliminodiacetate(2−) ligands, with and without imidazole: Synthesis, crystal structure and properties

In an attempt to prepare binary and ternary compounds, we have obtained two molecular complexes [Ni(MEBIDA or MOBIDA)(H2O)3]·nH2O (n = 0 or 1) and two iso-type salts [Ni(Him)6][Ni(MEBIDA or MOBIDA)2]·4H2O [MEBIDA = N-(p-methylbenzyl)iminodiacetate(2−) and MOBIDA = N-(p-methoxybenzyl)iminodiacetate(2−) ligands, Him = imidazole]. Our results are discussed with regard to related copper(II) and nickel(II) compounds. The reasons for which these chelating ligands produce nickel(II) salts instead of ternary compounds remain unclear since other iminodiacetate-like ligands give true ternary Ni(II) compounds with imidazole and other N-heterocyclic ligands.

Graphical abstractThe structures of the binary molecular compounds [Ni(Chel)(H2O)3]·nH2O (n = 0 or 1) and the salts [Ni(Him)6][Ni(Chel)2]·4H2O are reported (Chel = N-(p-methylbenzyl) or N-(p-methoxybenzyl)iminodiacetate(2−) ligands; Him = imidazole). The ternary compounds [Ni(Chel)(Him)3]·nH2O were not obtained. These facts are related to the nature of the non-coordinating N-arm of Chel and the octahedral Ni(II) centre.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide