Copper(II) and nickel(II) complexes of pyruvaldehyde bis{N(3)-substituted thiosemicarbazones}

Copper(II) and nickel(II) complexes of pyruvaldehyde bis{N(3)-methyl-, bis{N(3)-ethyl-, bis{N(3)-dimethyl- and bis{piperidylthiosemicarbazone} have been prepared and studied spectroscopically. The four thiosemicarbazones have been characterized by their melting points, as well as i.r., electronic and n.m.r. (1H,13C) spectra. The four coordinate copper(II) complexes have been studied by e.s.r. spectroscopy, and the copper(II) and nickel(II) complexes by several of the spectroscopic techniques mentioned above. Upon formation of these complexes, loss of protons from each thiosemicarbazone moiety occurs, and the bis(thiosemicarbazones) coordinate to the metal centres as dianionic, tetradentate N2S2 ligands.