Synthesis and Characterization of Oxovanadium (Iv) Complexes and Metal (Ii) Schiff Base Complexes

Schiff bases are typically formed by the condensation of a primary amine andan aldehyde/ketone. The resultant compound, R1R2C=NR3, is called a Schiff base(named after Hugo Schiff), where R1 is an aryl group, R2 is a hydrogen atom and R3is either an alkyl or aryl group. Schiff bases are generally bidentate (1), tridentate (2), tetradentate (3) orpolydentate (4) ligands capable of forming very stable complexes with transitionmetals. They can only act as coordinating ligands if they bear a functional group,usually the hydroxyl, sufficiently near the site of condensation in such a way that afive or six membered ring can be formed when reacting with a metal ion (Fig. 1.).