Redox-noninnocence of N,N′-bis(6-methyl-2-pyridylmethylene)ethane-1,2-diamine (L): synthesis and characterization of diamagnetic [NiII2(L˙˙)2] and [ZnII2(L)Cl4]((L˙˙)2−π diradical dianion of L)

Abstract

The synthesis of two diamagnetic dinuclear complexes [Ni^II₂(L˙˙)₂] (1) and [Zn^II₂(L)Cl₄] (2) and an octahedral, paramagnetic, mononuclear complex [Fe^II(L)Cl₂] (3) (S = 2) is reported; the tetradentate ligand N,N′-bis(6-methyl-2-pyridylmethylene)ethane-1,2-diamine, L, is shown to be redox noninnocent. It exists in its neutral closed-shell form L in 2 and 3 and in its dianionic diradical form, (L˙˙)²⁻, in 1.