The nickel(II) complex with a tetradentate Schiff base ligand obtained by condensation of 1,3‐propanediamine with salicylaldehyde (H2salpn) was studied in a variety of solvents at room temperature. The product, that is, the N′,N′′‐propylenebis(salicylaldiminato)nickel(II) ([Ni(salpn)]) complex, is brown in color in the solid state. The properties of the ligand and complex were characterized by elemental analysis, solubility in common solvents, molar conductivities, and ultraviolet (UV) and visible (Vis) spectroscopy. The [Ni(salpn)] complex is easily soluble in common solvents such as chloroform, methanol, ethanol, dimethyl formamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, acetonitrile, dioxane, acetone, 2‐propanol, and toluene—a necessary condition for observing solvatochromism. The molar conductivity values, equal to 0.0 S mol‐1 cm2 in these solvents, point to a typical non‐electrolyte behavior for this complex. Spectroscopic measurements were used to confirm the square‐planar geometry of the species in solution and to determine the coordination properties of the donor atoms and their bonding abilities (CFM/AOM parameters), as well as trichromaticity coordinate calculations. The results obtained show that the interactions of the metal with the donors depend on the polarity of the solvent.

The Front Cover shows the idea of using the features of white light (in the visible range) in chemistry to determine the properties of chemical compounds. The quantitative interpretation of color is made on the basis of chromaticity coordinates calculated from electronic spectra in the visible range. The electronic spectra are a source of information about the structure of the compound and its interactions in the solution, because the shape of a spectrum depends on the geometry of the molecule. Changing the parameters of the bands in the spectrum implies a change in color. More information can be found in the Full Paper by A. Gonciarz et al. on page 677 in Issue 9, 2018 (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/open.201800100).

Invited for this month's cover picture is Dr. Agnieszka Gonciarz and her team. The team′s cooperation began recently when they met at the Military University of Land Forces (MULF) in Wrocław (Poland). Previously, each team member had various experience, in which chemistry played a major role. Dr. A. Gonciarz conducted spectroscopic research on coordination compounds, Prof. J. Zwoździak is a well‐known expert in the field of environmental protection, and Prof. M. Żuber is an expert in the application of chemistry in security sciences. When they met at MULF, the idea of cooperation arose and their research interest was directed toward the possibility of practical application of Schiff bases and their complexes in various areas. Read the full text of their Full Paper at https://doi.org/10.1002/open.201800100.