Synthesis, characterization, and spontaneous resolution of chiral nickel(II) complexes with the tripod ligand tris[2-(((2-phenylimidazol-4-yl)methylidene)amino)ethyl]amine.

The chiral nickel(II) complexes of a tripod-type ligand with the chemical formulas [Ni(H3L)](NO3)2.MeOH (1), [Ni(H3L)](ClO4)2.MeOH (2), and [Ni(H3L)](C6H5COO)2.6H2O (3) were synthesized and characterized (H3L = tris[2-(((2-phenylimidazol-4-yl)methylidene)amino)ethyl]amine). The crystal structures of 1-3 were determined by their single-crystal X-ray analyses. 1, C37H40N12O7Ni: orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1); a = 14.198(2) A, b = 22.422(2) A, c = 12.019(2) A, Z = 4. 2, C37H40N10O9Cl2Ni: orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1); a = 14.206(2) A, b = 22.735(3) A, c = 12.696(3) A, Z = 4. 3, C50H58N10O10Ni: triclinic, P1; a = 14.191(5) A, b = 16.048(4) A, c = 13.692(4) A, alpha = 115.25(2) degrees, beta = 111.07(3) degrees, gamma = 64.75(2) degrees, Z = 2. Each complex has an octahedral coordination environment for the nickel(II) ion, formed by the six nitrogen donor atoms, and is either a delta (clockwise) or a lambda (anticlockwise) enantiomorph, depending on the screw arrangement of the tripod-type ligand around the nickel(II) ion. The circular dichroism (CD) spectrum of a powdered sample of a crystal of 1 showed a positive and a negative peak at 915 and 630 nm, respectively, and that of another crystal showed an enantiomeric pattern. The observation of the Cotton effect and the crystal structure provided evidence for spontaneous resolution of the chiral complex molecule.