Some Zirconium(IV) Complexes of Sterically Constrained Sulfur-Containing Schiff Bases of Heterocyclic β -Diketones: Synthetic Strategy and Structural Investigation Based Upon Spectroscopic Studies

Zirconium(IV) Schiff base chelates having the general formula ZrL(OPr i )2 [where LH 2 = R CH 3 , R = –C 6 H 5 , –C 6 H 4 Cl(p)] were synthesized by the reaction of Zr(OPr i )4.Pr i OH with sterically constrained sulfur-containing Schiff bases of heterocyclic β -diketones in a 1:1 molar ratio in dry refluxing benzene. The complexes ZrL(OPr i ) 2 were used as important precursors for the synthesis of the complexes of the type Zr(L) 2 . The complexes, Zr(L) 2 , were prepared by the interaction of precursor ZrL(OPr i ) 2 with sterically constrained sulfur-containing Schiff bases of heterocyclic β -diketones in a 1:1 molar ratio in dry benzene. The structures of these zirconium(IV) chelates have been discerned with the help of elemental analyses, physicochemical studies, and spectral [IR and NMR ( 1 H and 13 C)] data. A distorted trigonal bipyramidal and a distorted octahedral geometry may be assigned to zirconium(IV) chelates of the types ZrL(OPr i ) 2 and Zr(L) 2 , respectively.