The occurrence of paramagnetic and diamagnetic isomers of Bis(N-methylsalicylaldimine)nickel(II)

Abstract

The isolation of a stable well-defined paramagnetic isomer of bis(N-methylsalicyl-aldimine)nickel(II) is reported. This buff coloured compound has a magnetic moment at room temperature of 3.2 B.M., corresponding to the presence of two unpaired spins/Ni atom, and is insoluble in a large variety of solvents in marked contrast to the soluble green diamagnetic isomer. The magnetic moment is nearly independent of temperature in the range 115-350 °K, and probably has its origin in a polymeric, and hence insoluble, octahedral structure involving 4s4p³4d² nickel-bonding orbitals.