Glycol modified cis-diisopropoxy-bis(N-phenylsalicylideneiminato) titanium(IV). Syntheses, characterization, X-ray structures of Ti{O(C6H4)CHdouble bond; length as m-dashNPh}2(OPri)2, [{Ti(O(C6H4)CHdouble bond; length as m-dashNPh)2}O]3 and their low temp

Ti(OPri)4 reacts with N-phenylsalicylideneimine in anhydrous benzene in 1:2 molar ratio to afford precursor [Ti{O(C6H4)CHdouble bond; length as m-dashNPh}2{OPri}2] (A). Further reactions of A with various glycols yield heteroleptic complexes of the type [Ti{O(C6H4)CHdouble bond; length as m-dashNPh}2{O–G–O}] [where –G– = (CH2)2 (1), (CH2CHCH3) (2), (CH3CHCHCH3) (3), (CH2CHC2H5) (4), C(CH3)2C(CH3)2 (5), (CH2)3 (6), (CH2CH2CHCH3) (7), (CH3)2CCH2CHCH3 (8), (CH2)5 (9) and (CH2)6 (10)]. FAB mass spectroscopic studies of some of the derivatives suggest their monomeric nature. Single crystal X-ray diffraction study of A reveals cis-orientation of the isopropoxy groups [O(3)–Ti(1)–O(4) = 102.23(11)°] and distorted octahedral geometry around the titanium atom. Crystal structure of a trinuclear titanoxane [{Ti(O(C6H4)CHdouble bond; length as m-dashNPh)2}O]3, obtained from the partial hydrolysis of A, exhibit the formation of a six-membered Ti3O3ring. Complete hydrolysis and low temperature (300–500 °C) transformation of precursor A, as well as of 1 and 7 to pure TiO2 have also been achieved using sol–gel technique. The XRD patterns indicate formation of anatase phase of TiO2. The XRD and SEM observations on all the three samples indicate the formation of pure grains of nanosized titania. TGA curves of A and 7 suggest occurrence of multiple large thermal events.