f,f-homo-and d,f-or f,f-heterodinuclear complexes with a [2+2] macrocyclic compartmental schiff base

The [2+2] compartmental macrocyclic complexes [Ln(H2-L)- (NO3)], where H2-L is the cyclic Schiff base, derived from the condensation of 2,6-diformyl-4-chlorophenol (H-LA) or 2,6- diformyl-4-methylphenol (H-LB) and N,N-bis(2-aminoethyl)- 2-hydroxybenzylamine·3HCl (HA'·3HCl), contains a free N3O3 coordination chamber and can act as a ligand toward an identical or a different lanthanide(III) ion and a d transition metal(II) ion to give the related f,f homodinuclear [Ln2(L)- (X)2] and f,f' heterodinuclear [LnLn'(L)(X)2] or d,f heterodinuclear [LnM(L)(X)] complexes. They have been characterized by ESEM-EDS, ESI-MS, and IR and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The X-ray single-crystal analysis of the [2+1] acyclic complex [Lu2(L')2], derived from partial hydrolysis of the related [2+2] homodinuclear complex [Lu2(L)(Cl)2], followed by the loss of one lutetium(III) ion with the free formyl groups turning into diacetal ones, is also reported.