Trans-bis(dicyanamido)nickel(II) complexes with polyaza macrocyclic ligands

Two new trans-bis(dicyanamido)nickel(II) macrocyclic complexes, [Ni(II)(L1){N(CN)(2)}(2)] . H2O (1) and [Ni(II)-(L3){N(CN)(2)}(2)] (2), where L1 is 3,10-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-1,3,5,8,10,12-hexaazacyclotetradecane and L3 is 3,14-dimethyl-2,6,13,17-tetraazatricyclo[14,4,0(1).18,0(7).12]docosane, have been synthesized and structurally characterized by spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic methods. In (1) and (2), each central nickel(II) ion possesses a distorted octahedral geometry with four equatorial nitrogen atoms from the macrocycle and two axial nitrogen atoms from dicyanamide anions, which are terminally bonded to the central nickel atom. The solid state electronic spectra of (1) and (2) using the diffuse reflectance method show a characteristic high-spin d(8) nickel(II) ion in a distorted octahedral environment.