Molecular complexes. Part XI. Crystal and molecular structure of the 1 : 1 complexes of 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene and bis-(N-t-butylsalicylideneiminato)-cobalt(II), -nickel(II), and -copper(II)

Abstract

The three-dimensional crystal structures of the 1 : 1 complexes of 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene and bis-(N-t-butylsalicylideneiminato)-cobalt(II), -nickel(II), and -copper(II) have been determined. They are essentially isomorphous and have a structure formed from pairs of donor [bis-(N-t-butylsalicylideneiminato)metal(II)] and acceptor (1,3,5-trinitrobenzene) molecules. The 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene interacts with only one of the salicylideneiminato ligands of a given chelate. The co-ordination around the metal atom is a flattened MO₂N₂ tetrahedron with angles between the M, N(1), O(1) and M, N(2), O(2) planes of 81° 34′, 78° 51′, and 61° 36′ for the cobalt, nickel, and copper structures respectively. Inter-ligand steric strains increase with flattening but prevent the metal adopting square planar or octahedral co-ordinations.