Synthesis, structure and optical limiting property of CoII, MnII and CdII complexes with di-Schiff base and reduced di-Schiff base ligands

Three coordination polymers [Co(L)2(SCN)2] (1), [Mn(L)2(SCN)2] (2) and [Cd(H4L)2Cl2] (3), were obtained by the reaction of CoII, MnII, CdII salts with di-Schiff base ligand N,N′-bis(3-pyridylmethyl)-4,4′-biphenylenedimethyleneimine (L) and its reduced form (H4L), respectively and their structures were determined by X-ray crystallography. In the solid state, complexes 1 and 2 feature 1D hinged chains, while complex 3 has a 2D network structure. Complex 2 was found to show optical limiting property with a 3 ns pulsed laser at 532 nm in DMF solution.