Kamal Krishna Sarker

Nickel(II)-azido/thiocyanato complexes of 1-alkyl-2-(arylazo) imidazole: single crystal X-ray structure of [Ni(Pai-Me)2(N3)2] (Pai-Me=1-methyl-2(phenylazo)imidazole)

Reaction of Ni(ClO4)2 · 6H2O with 1-alkyl-2-(arylazo)imidazole (RaaiR/) and sodium azide (NaN3) or ammonium thiocyanate (NH4SCN) (1 : 2 : 2 molar ratio) in methanol gives [Ni(RaaiR/)2(X)2] (X=N3 (3, 4) and SCN (5, 6). All these complexes are characterized by elemental analyses, UV–Vis and IR spectral data, thermal and magnetic moment measurements. The X-ray structure is confirmed by single crystal measurement of [Ni(Pai-Me)2(N3)2] (3a). Cyclic voltammetry exhibits quasireversible response at >0.80 V corresponding to Ni(III)/Ni(II) couple along with ligand reductions at negative potential (<−0.5 V) to SCE reference. The electronic structure, spectral and redox properties are explained by DFT (Gaussian03) calculation.

The spectroscopic characterization, photochromism of cadmium(II)-iodo complexes of 1-alkyl-2-(arylazo)imidazoles and DFT computation of representative complexes.

[Cd(Raai-C(n)H(2n+1))(μ-I)I]2 and [Cd(Raai-C(n)H(2n+1))2I2] are synthesized by the reaction of CdI2 with 1-alkyl-2-(arylazo)imidazole (Raai-C(n)H(2n+1), n=4, 6, 8) in MeOH in 1:1 and 1:2 M ratio of salt and ligands, respectively. The complexes have been characterized by spectral data (UV-Vis, IR, (1)H NMR, Mass). The coordinated Raai-C(n)H(2n+1) shows photochromism, E(trans)-to-Z(cis) isomerisation, upon UV light irradiation. The reverse process, Z-to-E, is very slow in visible light irradiation process while the reaction is sensitive to change of reaction temperature. The quantum yields (ϕE→Z) for E-to-Z and the activation energy (Ea) of Z-to-E isomerisation are calculated and found that the complexes show subordinate results compared to free ligand. DFT computations of two representative complexes were carried out to explain the spectral and photochromic phenomena.