Probing the reactivity of a 2,2′-bipyridyl-3,3′-bis-imine ligand by X-ray crystallography

The reactivity of a Schiff-base bis-imine ligand 3 is probed by X-ray diffraction studies. Its susceptibility to hydrolysis, oxidation and nucleophilic addition reactions is demonstrated by the isolation of the methanol adduct 4 and two diazapene heterocycles 5 and 6. This reactivity is also reflected in the molecular structures of two coordination complexes isolated by the reaction of 3 with MIJhfac)2 salts, to afford [Cu(5)-(hfac)(tfa)] (8) and [Zn(6)(hfac)2] (9)