Two zinc(II) coordination complexes based on an asymmetric multidentate ligand: syntheses, structures, selective fluorescence sensing of iron(III) ions and thermal analyses

Abstract

The rational selection of ligands is vitally important in the construction of coordination complexes. Two novel Zn complexes, namely bis(acetato-κO)bis[1-(1H-benzotriazol-1-ylmethyl)-2-propyl-1H-imidazole-κN]zinc(II) monohydrate, [Zn(CHN)(CHO)]·HO, (1), and bis(azido-κN)bis[1-(1H-benzotriazol-1-ylmethyl)-2-propyl-1H-imidazole-κN]zinc(II), [Zn(CHN)(N)], (2), constructed from the asymmetric multidentate imidazole ligand, have been synthesized under mild conditions and characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Both complexes exhibit a three-dimensional supramolecular network directed by different intermolecular interactions between discrete mononuclear units. The complexes were also investigated by fluorescence and thermal analyses. The experimental results show that (1) is a promising fluorescence sensor for detecting Fe ions and (2) is effective as an accelerator of the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate.