Synthesis, spectral, thermal and BVS investigations on ZnS4N^N/N coordination environment: Single crystal X-ray structures of bis(dibenzyldithiocarbamato)(N^N)Zinc(II) complexes (N^N = 1,10-phenanthroline, tetramethylethylenediamine and 4,4′-bipyridine)

The current paper describes the synthesis and spectral investigations on the adducts of [Zn(dbzdtc)2] (1) with 1,10-phen (2), tmed (3), 2,2′-bipy (4) and 4,4′-bipy (5) (where, dbzdtc = dibenzyldithiocarbamate anion, 1,10-phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, tmed = tetramethylethylenediamine, 2,2′-bipy = 2,2′-bipyridine, 4,4′-bipy = 4,4′-bipyridne) and single crystal X-ray structures of [Zn(dbzdtc)2(1,10-phen)] (2) and [Zn(dbzdtc)2(tmed)] (3) and [Zn(dbzdtc)2(4,4′-bipy)] (5). 1H and 13C NMR spectra of 1,10-phen, tmed, 2,2′-bipy and 4,4′-bipy adducts were recorded. 1H NMR spectra of the complexes show the drift of electrons from the nitrogen of the substituents forcing a high electron density towards sulfur via the thioureide π-system. In the 13C NMR spectra, the most important thioureide (N13CS2) carbon signals are observed in the region: 206–210 ppm. Fluorescence spectra of complexes (2) and (4) show intense fluorescence due to the presence of rigid conjugate systems such as 1,10-phenanthroline and 2,2′-bipyridine. The observed fluorescence maxima for complexes with an MS4N2 chromophore in the visible region are assigned to the metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) processes. Single crystal X-ray structural analysis of (2) and (3) showed that the zinc atom is in a distorted octahedral environment. Bond Valence Sum was found to be equivalent to 1.865 for (2), 1.681 for (3) supporting the correctness of the determined structure. BVS of (3) deviates from the formal oxidation number of zinc due to the non-aromatic, sterically hindering tetramethyl bonding end of tmed. Thermal studies on the compounds show the formation of Zn(NCS)2 as an intermediate during the decay.

Graphical abstractThe affinity of Zn towards sulfur containing ligands lead to many structurally novel compounds with interesting fluorescent properties. Nitrogenous adducts are of particular interest in this connection and the synthesis and spectral characterization of the adducts of [Zn(dbzdtc)2] (1) with 1,10-phen (2), tmed (3), 2,2′-bipy (4) and 4,4′-bipy (5) along with the single crystal X-ray structures of (2), (3) and (5) are reported.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide