Syntheses, characterization and crystal structures of two square-planar Ni(II) complexes with unsymmetrical tridentate Schiff base ligands and monodentate pseudohalides

Two new square-planar Ni(II) complexes, [NiL1(NCS)] (1) and [NiL2(N3)] (2) have been synthesized with the unsymmetrical tridentate Schiff base ligands [(CH3)2NCH2CH2N=C(CH3)CH=C(OH)(C6H5)], L1H, derived from benzoylacetone and 2-dimethylaminoethylamine and [(CH3CH2)2NCH2CH2N=C(CH3)CH=C(OH)(C6H5)], L2H, derived from benzoylacetone and 2-diethylaminoethylamine, respectively. The complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, electrochemical and thermal methods (where applicable). Structures have been established by the single-crystal X-ray diffraction technique which reveals the discrete nature of the complexes in which the metal centers adopt a distorted square planar geometry. Coordination environments of the metal ions in the complexes are satisfied with two different unsymmetrical Schiff base ligands having similar N2O donor sets and a terminal pseudohalide anion (thiocyanate for 1 and azide for 2).