Synthesis, characterization and X-ray structural determination of a stable dication derived from symmetrical ortho-aminophenyl diamine and 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde

N,N′-Bis(2-aminophenyl)-1,2-ethanediamine is synthesized from 1,2-diaminoethane and 1-chloro-2-nitrobenzene in the presence of sodium carbonate and the product reduced by zinc dust and ammonium chloride. A novel stable dication is synthesized by reaction of N,N′-bis(2-aminophenyl)-1,2-ethanediamine and 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde in the presence of manganese chloride in methanol. The X-ray structural analysis shows formation of the dication.