Dinuclear triple helicates with diazine ligands: X-ray structural, electrochemical, and magnetic studies.

A series of dinuclear complexes of Mn(III), Fe(III), and Co(III) with two diazine Schiff bases, H2salhn and H2mesalhn, is reported. The Schiff bases are prepared by condensation reactions of hydrazine with salicylaldehyde (H2salhn) and with 2-hydroxyacetophenone (H2mesalhn) in 1:2 mol ratio. X-ray crystallographic characterization reveals triple helical structures of [Co2(salhn)3], [Co2(mesalhn)3], and [Fe2(mesalhn)3]. In each complex, three dinucleating O,N,N,O donor ligands provide three diazine (=N-N=) bridges between the metal ions and facial O3N3 coordination spheres around them. The ligands are twisted about the N-N single bond and coordinate to the two metal ions in a helical fashion to generate the triple helical structure. The dicobalt(III) complex of mesalhn2- is D3-symmetric, while the diiron(III) analogue is very close to being of this symmetry. On the other hand, the dicobalt(III) complex of salhn2- significantly deviates from the ideal D3-symmetry due to the large range covered by the twist angles of the three ligands. In the crystal lattice of these complexes, intermolecular C-H...O, C-H...N, O-H...O, C-H...Cl, and pi-pi interactions involving the complex and the solvent molecules lead to one- and two-dimensional supramolecular structures. The complexes [Fe2(mesalhn)3] and [Co2(mesalhn)3] are redox active and display two successive metal-centered reductions on the cathodic side of Ag/AgCl reference electrode. Weak antiferromagnetic spin-coupling is operative between the two metal ions in [Mn2(salhn)3] (J = -0.57(1) cm(-1)) and in [Fe2(mesalhn)3] (J = -2.82(4) cm(-1)).