Two binuclear metallamacrocyclic zinc(II) coordination complexes derived from ferrocenecarboxylate and subsidiary ligands: synthesis, crystal structures and properties

Two binuclear zinc(II) coordination complexes, [Zn(FcCO2)2(prbbm)]2 2CH3OH 2H2O (1) (prbbm = 1,1'-(1,3-propanediyl)bis-1H-benzimidazole) and [Zn(FcCO2)2(pebbm)]2 4CH3OH (2) (pebbm = 1,1'-(1,5-pentanediyl)bis-1H-benzimidazole), were obtained by reaction of Zn(OAc)2 2H2O with sodium ferrocenecarboxylate (FcCOONa) and subsidiary ligands (prbbm or pebbm) in methanol. 1 and 2 are 0-D discrete macrocyclic frameworks with the ferrocenecarboxylate anions as monodentate ligands coordinating to Zn. Their electrochemical and luminescence properties were also investigated.