On the different coordination of NiII, ZnII and CdII cations in their model Schiff base complexes – Single crystal X-ray and solid state NMR studies

Three model metal complexes: Ni(NCS)L, Zn2(NCS)2L2 and Cd2(NCS)2L2, consisting of the SCN− anion(s) and L = 2-[(2-dimethylaminoethylimino)-methyl]-phenolate, have been studied by X-ray diffraction and solid state NMR spectroscopy. The metal cations in these complexes have different coordination modes: Ni2+ is almost square-planar, the Zn2+ cation in Zn2(NCS)2L2 is pentacoordinated, whereas Cd2+ is penta- and hexacoordinated in [Cd2(NCS)2L2]. The different coordination of the metal cations influences the chemical shifts of the metal cations and also the nitrogen atoms. These chemical shifts can be correlated with the M–N and M–O bond lengths (M = Ni2+, Zn2+, Cd2+).

Graphical abstractDifferent coordination of the metal cations in model Schiff base complexes influences the chemical shifts of the metal and nitrogen atoms, and well correlates with the M–N and M–O bond lengths.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide