Synthesis and Characterization of -Diketimine Schiff Base Complexes with Ni(II) and Zn(II) Ions: Experimental and Theoretical Study

Schiff base diethyl 4,4-(pentane-2,4-diylidenebis(azanylylidene))benzoate (1) as a new ligand (L) was prepared by the reaction of acetylacetone with benzocaine in the ratio of 1:1. Two transition-metal complexes, [Ni(II)(LCl(HOEt))] (2) and [Zn(II)(LCl(HOEt))] (3), have been synthesized from metal salts with didentate Schiff base ligand (L) and characterized by elemental analyses, FT-IR, H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR UV-Vis spectroscopy, and magnetic susceptibility. The biological activity of the complexes was studied. In addition, the M06-2x density function theory method and the 6-31G(d) basic set were applied to determine the optimized structures of 1-3 and to determine their IR and H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR spectra theoretically. The data are in good agreement with the experimental results. The geometries of complexes 2 and 3 were determined to be square-planar for 2 and tetrahedral for 3.