Synthesis, Characterization and Single Crystal X–ray Crystallography of Nd(III) and Pr(III) Complexes with the Tridentate Schiff Base Ligand N'–(1–(pyridin–2–yl)ethylidene)nicotinohydrazide

The use of N'–(1–(pyridin–2–yl)ethylidene)nicotinohydrazide (HL) in lanthanide(III) chemistry has yielded one mononuclear and one dinuclear complexes. The 1:1 Nd(NO3)3.6H2O or Pr(CH3COO)3.6H2O/HL in methanol afforded the complexes [Nd (HL)2(NO3)2(H2O)2].(NO3) (1) and {[Pr(L)(h2–OOCCH3)(H2O)](h1:h2:m–OOCCH3)2[Pr (L)(h2–OOCCH3)(H2O)]} (2). The structures of the complexes were solved by single crystal X–ray crystallography. In the mononuclear complex, the Nd3+ atom is coordinated by two neutral molecules of ligand acting in tridentate fashion, two nitrate anions acting in bidentate manner and two coordinated water molecules yielding a twelve–coordinated Nd atom. In the complex (2) the Pr3+ atoms are doubly bridged by two acetates anions and each metal ion is coordinated by one tridentate monodeprotonated molecule ligand, one bidentate acetate group and one coordinated water molecule. Each Pr3+ atom is nine–coordinated with an environment best described as a tricapped prismatic geometry. Complex 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with the following parameters: a = 22.7657(8) Å, b = 8.4276(3) Å, c = 18.0831(7) Å, b = 114.851(2)°, V = 3148.2(2) Å3, Z = 4, R1 = 0.032, wR2 = 0.098. Complex 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/n with the following parameters: a = 11.5388(6) Å, b = 14.1087(8) Å, c = 12.2833(6) Å, b = 102.211(2)°, V = 1954.45(18) Å3, Z = 2, R1 = 0.029, wR2 = 0.066. The supramolecular structures are consolidated by multiple hydrogen bonds.