Synthesis, characterization and X-ray crystal structure of novel nickel Schiff base complexes and investigation of their catalytic activity in the electrocatalytic reduction of alkyl and aryl halides

Novel potentially bidentate NO Schiff base ligands, HL (1) and HL (2) derived from condensation reaction of 2'-methoxyphenyl-2-ethylamine with salicylaldehyde (HL (1) ) and with 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde (HL (2) ), and their nickel complexes were synthesized and characterized by usual spectroscopic techniques such as FT-IR, UV-Vis, H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR and elemental analysis. It was revealed that the bidentate Schiff base ligands coordinate with Ni(II) ions yielding mononuclear complexes with 1:2 (metal/ligand) stoichiometry. This result has been determined by using X-ray crystallographic technique of HL (2) and the nickel complex derived from HL (1) (Ni(II)-2L (1) ). So, the structural studies showed that the two Ni(II) complexes adopt a square-planar geometry around the central metal ion. Cyclic voltammetry studies were investigated in 0.1 M TBAP in DMF solution and indicate that the nickel complexes show one reduction wave related to Ni(II)/Ni(I) redox couple. The electrocatalytical properties of these complexes were also studied in the same electrolyte medium. Their electrocatalytic performances have been tested toward the electroreduction reaction of bromocyclopentane and iodobenzene, showing a promoted activity in the case of the Ni(II)-2L (2) complex.