Synthesis, crystal structures and fluorescence studies of three new Zn(II) complexes with multidentate Schiff base ligands

Three new zinc(II) complexes Zn(L1)2 (1), Zn2L2(OAc)3 (2) and Zn2L3(OAc)3 (3) have been synthesized by using Zn(OAc)2·2H2O and potentially multidentate Schiff base ligands HL1 (2-((1-hydroxybutan-2-ylimino)methyl)-6-methoxyphenol), HL2 (2-((1-hydroxy-2-methyl-propan-2-ylimino)methyl)-6-methoxyphenol) and HL3 (2-((2-hydroxypropylimino)-methyl)-6-methoxyphenol), respectively. These Schiff base ligands are the condensation product of o-vanillin and corresponding amino alcohols. All the three complexes 1, 2 and 3 have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR, single crystal X-ray diffraction and fluorescence studies. Structural studies reveal that 1 is a mononuclear complex whereas in dinuclear complexes 2 and 3 the two Zn(II) centers are held together by deprotonated Schiff base ligands and acetates. All the synthesized complexes display intraligand (π → π*) fluorescence and can potentially serve as photoactive materials.