Molecular switching of nickel(ΙΙ) complexes using a hemilabile N,N′-bis(β-carbamoylethyl)1,2-diaminocyclohexane ligand

The reaction of NiCl2·6H2O with one equivalent hemilabile diaminodiamide ligand N,N′-bis(β-carbamoylethyl)1,2-diaminocyclohexane (1) gave a pale blue compound [Ni(C12H24N4O2)(H2O)2]2·3H2O·4Cl (2). With more than one equivalent ligands, 2 was transformed to a yellow species [Ni(C12H22N4O2)]·3H2O (3) by the Ni–O to Ni–N bond rearrangement at two amide sites of the complex. The color change could be described as a pH dependent isomerization of the ligand. The results presented could be useful in the design of new Ni(II)-based switching materials.