Synthesis and spectroscopic properties of novel asymmetric Schiff bases.

ABSTRACT

Three novel diimine Schiff bases including two asymmetric imines (2-OH)R-CHN-C(6)H(4)-CHN-R'(2-OH) type [where R=R'=phenyl for H(2)L(1); R=naphthyl, R'=phenyl for H(2)L(2) and R=R'=naphthyl for H(2)L(3)] have been synthesized with a new two step method. For this purpose, the starting Schiff bases 4-nitrobenzylidene-2-hydroxyaniline (SB(1)-NO(2)) and 4-nitrobenzylidene-2-hydroxy-3-naphthylamine (SB(2)-NO(2)) have been synthesized, previously. Nitro groups of them have been reduced into their amino derivatives (SB(1)-NH(2) and SB(2)-NH(2)) with sodium dithionite as selective reductant and the other imino groups have been formed by adding salicylaldehyde or 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde to the same solutions. The structures of the diimine Schiff bases were confirmed by elemental analyses, ESI-MS, FT-IR, (1)H NMR and (13)C NMR spectroscopy. The phenol-imine and keto-amine tautomerism of the Schiff bases were investigated by FT-IR, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR techniques and UV-vis spectra in different solvents (DMSO, methanol, chloroform, toluene and cyclohexane). The effects of acidic and basic media on the tautomeric equilibria were discussed.