Synthesis, spectral characterization and X-ray crystal structure of Fe(III) and Co(III) complexes with an acyclic Schiff base ligand

Two complexes of composition [Co(HL)2]·ClO4·CH3OH (1) and [Fe2L3]·0.38H2O (2) (H2L = 2-((2-(2-hydroxybenzylamino)ethylamino)methyl)phenol) have been synthesized and their structures have been characterized. The mononuclear cobalt complex 1 shows the metal ion Co(III) in an octahedral environment, being coordinated to two ligand molecules in a N4O2 core, remaining one of the two hydroxyl phenol groups of each ligand not deprotonated and uncoordinated. Instead, complex 2 is dinuclear, and each of the two metal centers is coordinated by one molecule ligand and other ligand molecule acts as bridge between the two metal centers, resulting a distorted N4O2 octahedral environment for each Fe(III) ion. In this case the two hydroxyl phenol groups of the ligand molecules are deprotonated and coordinated. Variable-temperature solid-state magnetic studies have been performed for compound 2.