Local Atomic Structure and Magnetic Properties of Cu(II), Co(II), and Zn(II) 1-(2-Hydroxybenzylidenamino)benzimidazolinone-2 Complexes

New azomethine 1-(2-hydroxybenzylidenamino)benzimidazolinone-2 and Cu(II), Co(II) and Zn(II) complexes based on it are synthesized and studied. The structure of azomethine and metal complexes is found from the data of elemental analysis, infrared (IR) spectroscopy, 1H NMR spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and magnetochemistry. It is shown that all complexes have a mononuclear structure with the general formula M(HL)2. For the copper complex, the weak antiferromagnetic-type exchange between copper ions is observed due to the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonds N–H···O=C.