Synthesis and characterization of a novel Schiff base derived from 2,4,6-trimethyl-m-phenylenediamine with o-vanillin and its metal complexes

A novel Schiff base L2 was synthesised from 2,4,6-trimethyl-m-phenylenediamine and o-vanillin and its Co(II) and Zn(II) complexes were isolated. Their structures were elucidated through various physicochemical and spectral techniques, including an x-ray single crystal investigation of L2. The metal complexes CoL2: Co2[(L2)2(H2O)2].4H2O and ZnL2: Zn2[(L2)2(CH3COO)2] obtained were dinuclear complexes with two metal ions acting as bridges joining the two Schiff bases together. The results indicated that each L2 moieties acted as a tetradentate ligand in which both oxygen and nitrogen atoms served as coordination sites for the metal ions.