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The crystal structure and magnetic properties of two mononuclear iron(III) Schiff base complexes, [FeL1(NCS)2] (1), HL1 = 2-[1-[[2-[(2-aminoethyl)amino]ethyl]imino]ethyl]phenol and [FeL2(N3)Cl] (2), HL2 = 2-(-1-(2-(2-aminoethylamino)ethylimino)ethyl)-4-methylphenol are reported. Each complex contains a Fe(III) ion surrounded by a N3O Schiff base ligand and two NCS− ligands (in 1) or one N3− and one Cl− ligands (in 2). The magnetic properties can be well reproduced with zero field splittings in the high spin S = 5/2 Fe(III) ions and weak intermolecular Fe–Fe interactions mediated by hydrogen bonds. This intermolecular antiferromagnetic interaction has been validated by using DFT calculations in complex 2. Moreover, the interaction energies of the H-bonded dimers in both complexes have been estimated using DFT calculations and characterized using a combination of QTAIM and NCI plot computational tools. Complexes 1 and 2 constitute two rare examples of Fe(III) complexes with magnetic interactions through H-bonds.

A zinc(II) complex, [ZnL(H2O)]·H2O {H2L = 2,2′-[(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediyl)bis(nitrilomethylidyne)]bis[6-ethoxyphenol]} has been synthesized and characterized by UV-vis and IR spectroscopy. The structure of the complex has been confirmed by X-ray crystallography and the noncovalent interactions characterized using Hirshfeld surface analysis. In addition to the conventional H-bonds involving the Zn-coordinated and non-coordinated water molecules, interesting C–H⋯π interactions between the H-atoms belonging to aliphatic part of the ligand (2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediyl) and the Zn-coordinated aromatic rings are established. These interactions have been studied using DFT calculations (PBE0-D3/def2-TZVP) and characterized using molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) surfaces and the noncovalent interaction (NCI) plot index analyses.

A dinuclear vanadium(V) complex, (μ-O)2[V(O)(L)]2, [where HL = 2-methoxy-6-((2-(2-hydroxyethylamino)ethylimino)methyl)phenol] has been synthesized and characterized by spectral and elemental analysis. A single crystal X-ray diffraction study confirms it structure. Two different conformations, stabilized via either intra- or inter-dinuclear hydrogen bonding interactions, co-exist in the solid-state structure. The energies of these intra- or inter-dinuclear hydrogen bonding interactions have been estimated by Density functional theory (DFT) calculations. A ‘Non-covalent interaction’ (NCI) plot has also been used to characterize these interactions.

A dinuclear vanadium(v) complex, (μ-O)

Two mononuclear and two dinuclear vanadium(V) complexes, [VO2L1] (1), [VO2L2] (2), (μ-O)2[V(O)(L3)]2 (3) and (μ-O)2[V(O)(L4)]2·2H2O (4), where HL1 = 4-bromo-6-[(2-phenylaminoethylimino)methyl]phenol, HL2 = 2-((2-(diethylamino)ethylimino)methyl)-4-chlorophenol, HL3 = 2-((2-(ethylamino)ethylimino)methyl)-4-chlorophenol and HL4 = 2-(1-(2-(ethylamino)ethylimino)ethyl)phenol have been synthesized and characterized. Structures of all complexes have been confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Complexes 1, 2, and 3 exhibit significant halogen bonding interactions in their solid state structures. The energies associated to the supramolecular interactions have been explored using Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations, and further confirmed with non-covalent interaction (NCI) plots.

Two new cobalt(III) tetrazolato complexes [Co(L1)(PTZ)(N3)] (1) and [Co(L2)(PTZ)(N3)] (2) {where H2L1 = 2((3-(methylamino)propylimino)methyl)-6-methoxyphenol, H2L2 = 2((3-(dimethylamino)propylimino)methyl)-6-ethoxyphenol and HPTZ = 5-(2-pyridyl)tetrazole}, have been synthesized via in situ 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of 2-cyanopyridine and sodium azide in the presence of cobalt(II) nitrate hexahydrate and respective Schiff bases in the open atmosphere. The structures of both complexes have been confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Features of noncovalent interactions in the solid state of both complexes have been studied by means of DFT and MEP calculations and characterized using Bader's theory of “atoms in molecules” (AIM). These complexes act as biomimetic catalysts promoting the aerobic oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol (3,5-DTBC) to the corresponding o-benzoquinone at room temperature. The reaction follows Michaelis–Menten enzymatic reaction kinetics with turnover numbers of ∼0.030 s−1 in an acetonitrile–methanol (2 : 1) mixture. Both complexes are also reactive towards aerobic oxidation of o-aminophenol in acetonitrile–methanol (2 : 1) with turnover numbers ∼0.095 s−1.

Two homochiral copper(II) helices, [Cu(μ1,3-N3)(L1)]n (1) and [Cu(μ1,3-NCO)(L2)]n (2), with end-to-end pseudohalide bridges, were synthesized using two N2O donor achiral Schiff bases via spontaneous chiral resolution. Field-induced ferromagnetic ordering due to magneto-striction in homochiral 1-D helix [Cu(μ1,3-N3)(L1)]n (1) is reported for the first time. At temperatures below 5.5 K, under a magnetic field of 1 T, orthogonality between the magnetic orbitals of copper centres increases significantly due to the contraction of lattice parameters, giving rise to long-range ferromagnetic ordering in the helical chain. The magneto-dielectric results are also indicative of the observed magneto-striction effect in the present complex 1. We believe that this study will uncover a new way to invoke long-range ferromagnetic ordering in 1-D helical chains.

Two enantiomorphic (P and M) helical coordination polymers of [Cu(μ1,3-N3)(L)]n {HL = 2-(dimethylamino)ethyliminomethylnaphthalen-2-ol} have been synthesized by the self-assembly of the achiral precursors via spontaneous resolution. The structures have been confirmed by single crystal X-ray crystallography. Solid-state circular dichroism spectra have confirmed the chirality of both P and M helical chains.

A phenoxo bridged antiferromagnetic copper(II) cubane features a π-stacked 66-dia net framework and creates long range ferromagnetic ordering, as evidenced from a coercivity maximum (∼2000 Oe) at 20 K with very unusual saturation magnetization.