Synthesis, characterization, and crystal structures of cobalt(II), copper(II), and zinc(II) complexes of a bidentate iminophenol

A bidentate iminophenol (HL = 2-((4-methoxyphenylimino)methyl)-4,6-di-tert-butylphenol derived from condensation of 4-methoxyaniline and 3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde) was mixed with divalent metal salts to form the corresponding mononuclear metal complexes [MII(L)2] (M = Co (1), Cu (2), and Zn (3)). The complexes are characterized by different spectroscopic and analytical tools. X-ray crystal structures of the complexes revealed homoleptic mononuclear complexes with MN2O2 coordination. The cobalt(II) (1) and zinc(II) (3) complexes display a pseudo-tetrahedral coordination geometry, whereas the copper(II) complex (2) exhibits a distorted square-planar coordination. The zinc(II) complex (3) emits at 460 nm with a twofold enhancement of emission with respect to the free iminophenol.