Structural, photophysical and electrochemical properties of a novel cardanol-based salophen ligand and its Mn(II) complex

A new cardanol-based salophen (hpbp) ligand and its manganese complex [Mn(hpbp)] were obtained by microwave-assisted synthesis method, with yields and reaction times of 65% in 20 min and 85% in 5min, respectively. The structural features of compounds were confirmed by electronic (UV–vis and fluorescence), infrared and NMR (1H, 13C) spectroscopic techniques. The photophysical study of the ligand showed ketoenamine-enolimine tautomeric equilibrium, which was discussed based on the excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) mechanism and was dependent on the solvent, concentration and molecular structure. The energy of the HOMO and LUMO orbitals (−5.41 and −2.12 eV, respectively), determinated by cyclic voltammetry and UV–Vis, the energy was very close to the values determined by the theoretical calculations. The studies revealed that the hpbp is a tetradentate ligand bonded to the metal ion by phenolic oxygens and by azomethine nitrogens. Therefore, this work contributes to the science of salophen compounds, in addition to stimulating the synthesis of new ligands from renewable sources for the coordination chemistry.