Two Salen-type ligands (H2L1, 4,4′-dichloro-2,2′-[(1,3-propylene)dioxybis(nitrilomethylidyne)]diphenol and H2L2, 4,4′-dinitro-2,2′-[ethylenedioxybis(nitrilomethylidyne)]diphenol) and their corresponding complexes ({[CoL1(MeOH)]2(OAc)2Co} · 2MeOH and [CuL2]2) have been synthesized and characterized by element analyses, 1H NMR, FT-IR and UV–Vis spectra, TG-DTA and single crystal X-ray crystallography. Crystallographic data suggests the octahedral geometry for Co(II) complex and square-pyramidal geometry for Cu(II) complex. Furthermore, the fluorescence behavior of Cu(II) complex in DMSO is discussed.Two new complexes, {[CoL1(MeOH)]2(OAc)2Co} · 2MeOH and [CuL2]2, have been synthesized and characterized by element analyses, 1H NMR, FT-IR and UV–Vis spectra, TG-DTA and single crystal X-ray crystallography. Crystallographic data suggests the octahedral geometry for Co(II) complex and square-pyramidal geometry for Cu(II) complex. Furthermore, the fluorescence behavior of Cu(II) complex in DMSO is discussed.

Three new supramolecular complexes, [Cu(L1)H2O]n (1), [Zn(L2)(H2O)2]n (2), and [Cd(L2)(H2O)2]n (3), have been synthesized and characterized by FT-IR spectra, fluorescence spectra, and thermal analyses. And the structures of complexes 1–3 have been elucidated by X-ray analyses. Complex 1 is square pyramidal geometry with an unusually long bond (2.262 Å) from penta-coodinated CuII center to the oxygen atom of the apical coordinated water molecule. Molecules are linked by hydrogen bonding between the coordinated water and the phenolic oxygen atoms of adjacent molecules, thus formed a self-assembling continual zigzag chain supramolecular structure. The crystal structure of complex 2 (or 3) has indicated that the complex consists of one ZnII (or CdII) atom, one L2− unit and two coordinated water molecules, the coordination number of the ZnII (or CdII) atom is six, and formed an infinite metal–water chain supramolecular structure by intermolecular hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking of neighboring benzene rings. Meanwhile, the thermal and photophysical properties of the resulted complexes have also been discussed.Three novel mononuclear complexes, [Cu(L1)H2O]n (1), [Zn(L2)(H2O)2]n (2), and [Cd(L2)(H2O)2]n (3), have been synthesized with Salen-type ligands. Complex 1 is a self-assembling continual zigzag chain supramolecular structure. The crystal structures of complex 2 and 3 formed an infinite metal–water chain supramolecular structure by intermolecular hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking of neighboring benzene rings.

An unprecedented linear supramolecular manganese(III)-lithium(I) coordination polymer, [MnIIIL(OH)2LiI]n, has been prepared and structurally characterized. The polymer is a one-dimensional infinite Mn(III)–O–Li(I) chain supramolecular structure formed by intermolecular O–H···O and O–H···Cl hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking of neighboring benzene rings.An unprecedented linear supramolecular manganese(III)-lithium(I) coordination polymer, [MnIIIL(OH)2LiI]n, has been prepared and characterized. Mn(III) atom of the title polymer is hexa-coordinated by the N2O2 donor atoms from the Salen-type ligand in the equatorial plane and two oxygen atoms from two μ-hydroxy groups in the axial positions. Li(I) atom is tetra-coordinated by two oxygen atoms from the Salen-type ligand and two oxygen atoms from two μ-hydroxy groups in the axial positions. This structure formed a one-dimensional infinite Mn(III)–O–Li(I) chain supramolecular structure by intermolecular O–H···O and O–H···Cl hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking of neighboring benzene rings.

Two solvent-induced trinuclear nickel(II) clusters, [{NiL(CH3OH)}2(OAc)2Ni]·2CH3OH (I) and [{NiL(C2H5OH)}2(OAc)2Ni]·2C2H5OH (II), have been synthesized by the reaction of a new Salen-type bisoxime chelating ligand of 5,5′-di(N,N′-diethylamino)-2,2′-[(1,3-propylene)dioxybis(nitrilomethylidyne)]diphenol (H2L) with nickel(II) acetate tetrahydrate in different solvents. Clusters I and II were characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectra, UV–vis absorption spectra, TG–DTA and X-ray diffraction methods. In clusters I (or II), there are two ligand moieties (which provide N2O2 donors), two acetate ions, two coordinated methanol (or ethanol) molecules and two crystallizing methanol (or ethanol) molecules, which result in the formation of three slightly distorted octahedral geometries around Ni(II) ions. Interestingly, nickel(II) ions in the structures of clusters I and II are all six-coordinated geometry, but clusters I and II are grown up in different solvent. Right because of this, solvent effect cause to their different crystal structures.A new Salen-type bisoxime chelating ligand, 5,5′-di(N,N′-diethylamino)-2,2′-[(1,3-propylene)dioxybis(nitrilomethylidyne)]diphenol (H2L), and two solvent-induced trinuclear nickel(II) clusters, [{NiL(CH3OH)}2(OAc)2Ni]·2CH3OH (I) and [{NiL(C2H5OH)}2(OAc)2Ni]·2C2H5OH (II), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectra, UV–vis absorption spectra, TG–DTA and X-ray diffraction methods. In cluster I (or II), there are two ligand moieties (which provide N2O2 donors), two acetate ions, two coordinated methanol (or ethanol) molecules and two crystallizing methanol (or ethanol) molecules, which result in the formation of three slightly distorted octahedral geometries around Ni(II) ions. Interestingly, nickel(II) ions in the structures of clusters I and II are all six-coordinated geometry, but clusters I and II are grown up in methanol/acetonitrile and ethanol/acetonitrile, respectively. Right because of this, solvent effect cause to their different crystal structures.