Ni(II) and Cu(II) Schiff base complexes with an extended H-bond network

Reaction of the hydroxy-rich Schiff base H(3)saladhp = Ph(OH)CH=N-C(CH3)(CH2OH)(2) with CuCl2 . 4H(2)O or NiCl2 . 4H(2)O, gave mononuclear complexes CuCl[Ph(O)CH=N-C(CH3)(CH2OH)(2)]. H2O (1), Ni[Ph(O)CH=N-C(CH3)(CH2OH)(2)](2) (2) and Ni[Ph(O)CH=N-C(CH3)(CH2OH)(2)](2) .(C5H5N). 2H(2)O (3). The complexes were characterized by spectroscopic methods and by single crystal X-ray structure determination. 1 crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pcab, with a = 10.638(1), b = 27.584(2), c = 8.818(1) Angstrom and D-calc = 1.665 g cm(-3) for Z = 8; 2 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P (1) over bar, with a = 14.637(2), b = 10.912(1), c = 8.794(1) Angstrom, alpha = 74.444(3), beta = 112.579(3), gamma = 87.138(3)degrees and D-calc = 1.393 g cm(-3) for Z = 2; 3 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c, with a = 10.166(1), b = 12.651(1), c = 25.960(2), beta = 97.232(3)degrees and D-calc = 1.342 g cm(-3) for Z = 4. The EPR spectra of compound 1 in the solid state give features characteristics for the presence of an S = 1 triplet state due to the presence of the extended H-bond network. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.