The first double-armed salamo-like trinuclear Ni(II) complex: Synthesis, structure, spectroscopic and theoretical studies, and fluorescence properties

The first double-armed salamo-based tri-nuclear Ni(II) complex, named as [Ni-3(L)(mu(2)-OAc)(2)]center dot 3CHCl(3) was successfully self-assembled, and elucidated via elemental analyses, spectroscopic technology and theoretical analyses. The results indicated that one ligand H4L has coordinated with three Ni(II) atoms in a 1:3 ratio unreported previously. One of the three Ni(II) atoms is located at the cavity of the N2O2 donor, while other two Ni(II) atoms are sited at the NO2 cavities formed by double-armed salicylaldehyde moieties, respectively, and further coordinated via two bridging mu(2)-acetate groups, which is a quite novel structure. The fluorescent properties and a range of theory calculations in the ligand and its Ni(II) complex were researched in detail.