The synthesis, characterization, thermal and optical properties of copper, nickel, and vanadyl complexes derived from azo dyes

Two, novel, tetradentate Schiff-base ligands, namely bis-5-phenylazosalicylaldehyde diethylenetriimine and bis-5-[(4-methoxyphenyl)azo]salicylaldehyde diethylenetriimine, as well as their Cu2+, Ni2+, and VO2+ complexes, were synthesized and characterized using elemental analysis, infrared and also UV–Visible spectroscopy, 1HNMR and mass spectra. The thermal stability of the free ligands and the related metal complexes, as determined using differential scanning calorimetry and thermal gravimetric analysis, were found to be thermally stable upto 240–275 °C depending on the type of ligand and the central metal atom. The λmax of the ligands and their transition metal complexes in the region 300–800 nm are discussed. The novel metal complexes offer potential for application as recording media owing to both their absorption spectra in the blue-violet light region and high thermal stability.