Synthesis and spectroscopic properties of two different structural Schiff base Zn(II) complexes constructed with/without auxiliary ligands

Abstract The Schiff base binuclear Zn(II) complexes, [Zn2(L)2∙(H2O)2]∙2DMF (1) and its coordination polymer [Zn2(L)2∙(4,4′-bpy)2]n (2) (H2L = 3-[(5-chloro-2-hydroxy-benzylidene)-amino]-4-hydroxy-chromen-2-one, 4,4′-bpy = 4,4′-bipyridine), were synthesized under the same experimental condition without or with the auxiliary ligand 4,4′-bpy, respectively. The structural analysis revealed that complexes 1 and 2 have different crystal structures. The complex 1 was a centrosymmetric binuclear structure. It is noteworthy that the linker 4,4′-bpy was introduced during the synthesis of complex 2, so that two water molecules in complex 1 were replaced by two 4,4′-bpy linkers to form one-dimensional (1D) chain-like coordination polymer. The central Zn(II) ions in complex 1 were penta-coordinated distorted square pyramid geometry with τ = 0.42. However, the Zn(II) ions of complex 2 were hexa-coordinated distorted octahedral geometry. The fluorescence spectrum showed the complex 2 containing 4,4′-bpy was substantially quenching of the fluorescence as compared with the complex 1. In addition, it could be seen from the DFT calculation the energy gaps of the complexes 1 and 2 were both reduced compared to the ligand H2L. However, the LUMO and HOMO orbits of the complex 2 were occupied by the 4,4′-bpy, which is different from complex 1, resulting in 1 and 2 had different spectral properties.