Zinc(II) and nickel(II) complexes with N-[2-(2-diethylphoshponylethyliminomethyl)phenyl]-4-methylbenzenesulfonamide: Synthesis, structure, and photoluminescence properties.

[Display omitted] • Two novel Schiff base Zn(II) and Ni(II) complexes were prepared. • The structures of the compounds were established by X-ray crystallography. • The photoluminescent properties of Schiff base and Zn(II) complex were investigated. Two Zn(II) and Ni(II) complexes derived from the N -[2-(2-diethylphosphonylethyliminomethyl)phenyl]-4-methylbenzenesulfonamide ligand (HL) with stoichiometry ML 2 (M = Zn, Ni) have been synthesized. Their structures have been established using elemental analysis, IR, 1H NMR, UV–Vis spectroscopy, and synchrotron single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The Zn(II) and Ni(II) metal sites therein adopt the tetrahedral configuration. The DMSO and toluene solutions of the Zn(II) complex manifest photoluminescence in the blue-violet spectral range characterized by PL maxima at 436 and 432 nm and quantum yields of 0.15 and 0.30, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]