The curious cases of tetrahydrosalen-type ligands interacting with Ni(II): structures and ligand-based oxidation reactions.

This work centers around the nickel complexes derived from two tetrahydrosalen-type proligands: ,'-bis(2-hydroxybenzyl)--phenylenediamine (Hsalophan) and ,'-bis(2-hydroxy-3-methylbenzyl)--phenylenediamine (Hsalophan_Me). The reaction of Hsalophan with Ni(OAc)·4HO generates a dinuclear complex Ni(Hsalophan)(OAc) or Na[Ni(salophan)(OAc)] when NaOH is added to assist ligand deprotonation. The reaction of Hsalophan_Me with Ni(OAc)·4HO, however, yields a mononuclear complex Ni(Hsalophan_Me).